Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2018
233. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reconsider a decision to cut a teacher from a school (details supplied); the reason for the loss of this teacher; his views regarding class sizes in this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46787/18]
View answerThe 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. However, the staffing arrangements for primary schools includes 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 2018.
The school referred to by the Deputy applied for a developing post for the 2018/19 school year and was approved the post on the basis of projected enrolments. The actual enrolment of the school on 30 September 2018 was insufficient to retain the post and so the school was informed that the post was to be suppressed with effect from Friday, 26 October 2018. An appeals process is available to schools such as the one referred to by the Deputy. The last meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board was held in October. The school did not submit a staffing appeal to that meeting.
