79. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the current method of teacher allocation for primary schools, given that allocations are based on the previous year’s enrolment figures; if she will consider adopting a system that uses projected enrolment numbers in situations where schools are experiencing significant growth and large incoming junior Infant cohorts; the reasons for the delayed release of this year’s staffing schedule; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29001/26]

Teaching allocations are determined by the enrolment of the school on the previous 30 September. This process enables the Department to have in place the necessary measures to assess the accuracy of returns and thereby strengthen the integrity of the resource allocation process and the equitable treatment of schools, whilst ensuring that publicly funded resources are properly allocated.

Within the staffing arrangements, there are options available to schools to apply for additional staffing. Schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts, using projected enrolment. There is also a staffing appeals mechanism for schools to apply to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board, under certain published criteria, including one aimed specifically at schools that make a significant contribution to the provision of school places which assists the response to demographic growth within their area and, as a result, are under significant pressure on their class sizes at infants level.

Information on both these processes are available in Circular 0025/2026 which sets out the staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2026/27 school year.

The staffing arrangements were published in March this year, in comparison to February in the previous couple of years. This was to allow for the incorporation of the staffing measures provided for schools under the recently announced DEIS Plus scheme.