The staffing of a primary school for a particular year is determined by reference to the number of pupils enrolled in the school on 30 September of the previous year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is drawn up each year following discussions with the managerial authorities and the INTO.
The enrolment in Dunboyne national school declined from 457 in September 1998 to 448 in September 1999. The number of pupils required to retain the 16 mainstream class teacher for the 2000-01 school year is 450. Accordingly, the school will lose the 16 mainstream class teacher at the end of the current school year.
If the school authorities are confident that the enrolment of the school on 30 September 2000 will exceed 478 pupils they may apply to the primary payments branch of my Department for the allocation of a teaching post under "developing school" criteria.
The criteria required for attaining "developing school" status are outlined in circular 15/99 which my Department issued to all schools last year.