Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2017
197. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an additional teaching post for the 2017-2018 year will be provided to a school (details supplied) in County Kerry in view of the fact it has a registered enrolment in excess of the threshold for an additional post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25789/17]
View answerThe criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools are published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. 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 previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.
Staffing arrangements for the 2017/18 school year are set out in circular 0017/2017 which is available on my Department's website.
The staffing schedule includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Details of the criteria for appeal are contained in the staffing schedule, Circular 0017/2017.
The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal for consideration by the Appeals Board for the April 2017 meeting of the board under the Class Size criteria. The appeal was refused by the Appeals Board on the basis that the grounds of the appeal did not warrant the allocation of an additional post for the 2017/18 school year. The school has been notified accordingly. The Appeal Board operates independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision is final.
The published staffing arrangements include the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment for the following September, in this case September 2017. If the school in question is experiencing a rapid increase in enrolment it is open to the school to submit an application to the Primary Allocations Section of the Department for consideration for developing school status.
