Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
548. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools that have had concessionary posts under the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools scheme subsumed into their main stream staffing numbers, as a result of becoming eligible for an additional teacher due to increased student numbers over the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12685/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSome 31 disadvantaged legacy posts were subsumed into mainstream staffing in the 2012/13 school year, 7 posts were subsumed in the 2013/14 school year and a further 7 were subsumed into mainstream staffing in the 2014/15 school year.Budget 2012 provided for the phased withdrawal of approximately 428 posts allocated to some schools under disadvantage programmes prior to the introduction of DEIS in 2005. Due to conflicting reports of posts being lost in these schools, my Department produced a report on the impact of the withdrawal of these legacy posts from DEIS Band 1 and Band 2 Schools. Following the Government's decision of 21 February 2012 in the matter, a number of schools continued to retain disadvantaged legacy posts from previous disadvantage schemes on a year to year basis and only where warranted, based on the enrolment of the previous 30th September. The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. 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 for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Circular 0005/2015 which is available on the Department website.
