Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 April 2012
12Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in Dublin 1 will lose three teacher posts in September despite the promise that DEIS band schools would not lose any legacy posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19405/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new dedicated staffing schedule, when applied to the school referred to by the Deputy, ensures this school operates its entitlement under the DEIS programme to a more favourable pupil-teacher ratio of 20:1. In addition, the school will retain the more favourable pupil-teacher ratios under previous disadvantage schemes for the 2012-13 school year. Owing to a falling enrolment, the school is due to lose one mainstream classroom teacher and one administrative principal post. I wish to clarify it would lose these posts, regardless of any reforms to the teacher allocation process or budgetary measures.
The allocation processes also include an appeals mechanism, under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. The school to which the Deputy refers has submitted an appeal. The staffing appeals board which operates independently of my Department met on 18 April and will notify schools directly. The final staffing position for all schools at primary level ultimately will not be known until the autumn. At that stage the allocation process will be fully completed and any appeals to the staffing appeals board will have been considered.
I presume this reply refers to St. Laurence O'Toole's junior boys school.
Yes.
This matter was discussed earlier and my information does not tally with the Minister's response. I will drop him a note tomorrow on this case.
I thank the Deputy. Let us get the facts and deal with them properly.
I will also double-check the data provided for me.
