School Staff Appeals Mechanism

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2016

Tuesday, 22 November 2016

Questions (199)

Mick Wallace

Question:

199. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason, when it was stated in budget 2017 that there is capacity for one-teacher mainland schools to apply to the staffing appeals board for an extra teacher where the single teacher has children across six or more class groups, a school (details supplied) with one teacher and 17 pupils across eight classes, had its application for a second teacher refused by the staffing appeals board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35808/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2016/2017 school year is set out in the Staffing Schedule (Circular 0007/2016) which is available on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the 30 September 2015. The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board.

The measure announced in Budget 2017 provides a capacity for one teacher mainland schools to make an appeal to the Staffing Appeals Board for an extra teacher, where the single teacher has children across 6 or more class groups. Before a school can make an appeal to the Staffing Appeals Board it must have a minimum enrolment of 15 pupils. The detailed arrangements for this measure will be set out in the staffing schedule Circular for the 2017/18 school year i.e. the date this measure is effective from. The circular will be published early in 2017.