Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2004
278 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that pupils in a school (details supplied) in County Kildare, comprising junior and senior infants classes, will be taught in the same classroom with the same teacher due to the school having an insufficient number of teachers; and if he will increase the number of teaching staff for the school. [17497/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. The number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule and is finalised for a particular year following discussions with the education partners.
The mainstream staffing of the school for the current school year is a principal and nine mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 242 pupils on 30 September 2002. The staffing level will remain the same for the school year 2004-05 and is based on an enrolment of 245 pupils on 30 September 2003. The current enrolment figure is significantly less than the required minimum figure for an appointment of a tenth mainstream class teacher.
It is open to a board of management to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent appeals board established to adjudicate on mainstream staffing allocations in primary schools. Recently details of the criteria and application date for appeal were issued to all primary schools.
