asked the Minister for Education the estimated number of new secondary teaching posts which will be created during the year 1972-73.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Secondary Teachers.
24.
Based on experience over the past few years, it is estimated that the number of new posts created will be around 650. It is also estimated that there will be about 450 replacements required to fill vacancies in existing posts arising at the end of the school year.
Is it not a fact that last year was the first time that the Department or the Minister exercised control over the number of secondary teachers employed and that he interfered and, in fact, left it so late that arrangements that had been made to bring teachers home from England had to be cancelled because the Minister did not allow various school authorities to employ these teachers?
This matter was thrashed out very fully in this House. The fact is that the number of teachers I gave as being likely to be employed during last year was exceeded.
But did the Minister give adequate notice? In fact, he did not.
25.
asked the Minister for Education the total number of lay secondary teachers in employment at present.
The number of lay secondary teachers at present in receipt of incremental salary in secondary schools is 5,598.
26.
asked the Minister for Education the number of lay secondary teachers on confined registers.
The number of lay secondary teachers on confined registers who are at present in receipt of incremental salary in secondary schools is 543.
27.
asked the Minister for Education the number of secondary teachers placed between the tenth point and the maximum of the scale who are not in receipt of the special functions allowance under the 1969 agreement.
Under the 1969 agreement the special functions allowances were payable to secondary teachers who had reached the tenth point on the incremental scale. These allowances ceased under the July, 1970, agreement and were supplanted by the creation of posts of responsibility. There are now 771 teachers who have reached the tenth point on the scale and who are not in receipt of special functions allowances. Many of these will be appointed to posts of responsibility.