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. The staffing schedule is determined for a particular year fol lowing discussions with the managerial authorities and the INTO.
The current staffing of this particular school is a principal and three mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 89 as at 30 September, 1998. The school also has the services of a remedial teacher.
The enrolment as at 30 September 1999, on which the staffing for the 2000-01 school year is based, was 82. Under the staffing schedule, this enrolment entitles the school to two mainstream class teachers. I regret that in the circumstances it is not open to me to authorise the retention of the third mainstream teaching post into the next school year.