Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 May 2012
174 Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a learning support teacher in a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; if he will give a commitment that a permanent learning support teacher will be retained in the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22853/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra183 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will support a school (details supplied) in Dublin 17 which is losing a teacher. [22977/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 183 together.
The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools are published annually on my Department's website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.
The staffing arrangements in schools for the 2012/2013 school year can also be affected by changes in their enrolment, the impact of budget measures and the reforms to the teacher allocation process. A key part of the reforms of the allocation process was to facilitate a long overdue updating of the GAM (learning support) allocation for all schools.
The staffing arrangements include provision for an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Details of the criteria for appeal are contained in the Department's Staffing Circular 0007/2012.
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. 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 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.
