Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 May 2021
206. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education if she will request the reversal of the decision by the Primary Staffing Appeals Board to uphold the loss of a mainstream class teacher in a school (details supplied) in accordance with Circular 0019/2021 of a school (details supplied) given that the numbers in the school meet the requirements for this teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28962/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
For the 2021/22 school year, an improvement of one point in the appointment threshold in primary schools has been introduced and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of of 1 teacher for every 25 pupils which is a historical low ratio. In addition, a three point reduction in the retention scale has also been introduced for September 2021. These measures will help to ensure that less pupils are required to recruit or retain a teacher.
The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The school referred to by the Deputy submitted a staffing appeal which was deemed ineligible by the Appeals Board as the grounds of the appeal did not meet the published appeals criteria. The school has been notified of this decision. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final. However, if the school's projected pupil enrolment for 2021/22 has increased since the appeal application, it is open to the school to resubmit an appeal to the June meeting of the Appeals Board with the updated enrolment.
