Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2018
195. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review an appeal by a school (details supplied) under the exceptional accommodation difficulties to allow an additional teacher to be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41751/18]
View answerThe criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the Department's 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 process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Circular 0010/2018, “Staffing Arrangements in Primary Schools for the 2018/19 School Year” provides details for schools wishing to make an appeal. It is open to Boards of Management to assess the criteria which best applies to their school and submit an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board.
The Primary Staffing Appeals Board will meet for the final time this week to consider staffing appeals for the 2018/19 school year.
The Department received a staffing appeal from the school referred to by the Deputy last week. Following clarification that this week's appeal meeting will deal with the current year's staffing allocation, the school has withdrawn its appeal and advised the Department that it will submit an appeal in respect of staffing for the 2019/20 school year when the staffing arrangements for next year are published in early 2019.
