School Staff Appeals Mechanism

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 October 2017

Wednesday, 11 October 2017

Questions (105)

John Curran

Question:

105. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review his Department's recent decision to overturn a successful appeal by a school (details supplied) in County Dublin for the retention of a school teacher for the year 2017-2018 in view of the high number of students attending this school and the successful appeal in April 2017; if the appeal decision will be upheld and not overturned by his Department and the school will retain its teacher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43197/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually 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 previous 30 September. The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board.

The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.

The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for consideration by the Appeals Board at its April 2017 meeting under the class size criterion. The appeal was provisionally approved by the Appeals Board pending confirmation of the actual enrolments on the 30th September 2017. Based on actual pupil enrolments on the 30th September 2017 this post has been approved for the 2017/18 school year.