I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 to 93, inclusive, and 95 and 96 together.
The Primary Staffing Appeals Board met on 18th and 19th April. A total of 367 schools submitted appeals to the Appeals Board. These appeals were considered in accordance with the appeals criteria set out in Department Staffing Circular 0007/2012. 205 schools had their appeals upheld by the Staffing Appeals Board. The Appeals Board took the following approach in dealing with the appeals from the 37 schools that were losing 3 or more posts:
Schools that were due to lose 3 or 4 posts will now lose a maximum of 2 posts in the 2012/13 school year. The loss of the remaining posts will be deferred to the subsequent school year.
Schools that were due to lose 5 or more posts will now lose a maximum of 3 posts in the 2012/13 school year. The loss of the remaining posts will be deferred to the subsequent school year.
A summary outcome of the appeals is now published on my Department's website. Individual schools have been notified of the outcome of their appeals. The next meeting of the Staffing Appeals Board is due to be held on 14 June 2012. The latest date for other schools to submit appeals is 1 June 2012. The final staffing position for all schools will ultimately not be known until the Autumn. At that stage the allocation process will be fully completed and all appeals to the Staffing Appeals Board will have been considered.