Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 December 2012
170. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the EAL teacher granted in April this year to a school (details supplied) in County Dublin on an appeal was removed in October without any warning or input from the school. [55228/12]
View answerThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the current school year is set out in Primary Circular 0007/2012 which is available on the Department website. In addition, the staffing appeal process at primary level includes the provision whereby schools with high concentration of pupils requiring English as an additional language (EAL) can apply for additional temporary language support posts. These EAL allocations are made on the basis of appeals by schools to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board.Teaching posts allocated on the basis of projected enrolments are allocated subject to verification of the projected enrolment at 30 September.
The school referred to by the Deputy sought a post under EAL criterion through the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The school was notified by my Department on 23 April 2012 that the board had approved a temporary EAL post subject to achieving projected enrolments on 30 September and that if the enrolments were not achieved the post would be suppressed.
As the projected enrolment was subsequently not achieved the temporary EAL post was withdrawn.
