Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2015
356. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the threshold for the allocation and retention of a third classroom teacher in an island primary school, the only school on the island; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16304/15]
View answerThe staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Department Circular 0005/2015 which is available on my Department's website at www.education.gov.ie. Section 1 of the circular sets out the retention arrangements for Island Schools in the event that a reduction in the pupil numbers of an island school will result in the loss of the second or third classroom teaching post and where the school is the only primary school remaining on the island.
The circular also sets out the improvements to the staffing schedule for the 2015/16 school year for small schools. These improvements are improved retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and also the improved appointment and retention thresholds for isolated one-teacher schools.
An appeals process is also available to small schools. Details of the appeals criteria are set out in the published staffing arrangements. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
