asked the Minister for Education if she will indicate on a panel by panel basis the number of teachers in each Catholic diocesan panel; when they will be cleared; when new teachers will be given jobs in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Catholic Diocesan Teacher Panel.
62.
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report otherwise we would be here for an hour as it is extraordinarily lengthy.
Redeployment of panel teachers depends on vacancies arising in schools in the Diocese. It is not possible to predict the likely number of such vacancies in the remainder of the current school year.
Where panels are clear, appointments of new teachers may be made in the normal way. In addition appointments to temporary and substitute posts may be made without reference to the panel.
Number of teachers on Diocesan Panels.
|
Panel |
Teachers |
|
Achonry |
5 |
|
Ardagh & Clonmacnoise |
10 |
|
Armagh |
8 |
|
Cashel & Emly |
9 |
|
Clogher |
2 |
|
Clonfert |
5 |
|
Cloyne |
28 |
|
Cork |
28 |
|
Derry |
3 |
|
Dublin |
30 |
|
Elphin |
17 |
|
Ferns |
14 |
|
Galway |
2 |
|
Kerry |
19 |
|
Kildare & Leighlin |
13 |
|
Killala |
3 |
|
Killaloe |
8 |
|
Kilmore |
3 |
|
Meath |
22 |
|
Ossory |
11 |
|
Raphoe |
4 |
|
Ross |
2 |
|
Tuam |
8 |
|
Waterford & Lismore |
9 |
|
Total |
263 |
I thank the Minister for that reply and look forward to the details. Will the Minister accept that at the moment in certain areas there are numbers of teachers deemed to be surplus on panels, while at the same time we have a number of schools designated as disadvantaged who are awaiting appointments of additional teachers in line with the approved quota for such schools?
All appointments have been made under the arrangements worked out under the Programme for National Recovery between the INTO and the Government and we have strictly adhered to that arrangement. The Deputy's point is valid but the question of teachers on panels and their redeployment is a matter for long term review having regard to the needs that may arise in the near future. It is being kept under consideration. Already this term, between September and now, we have allocated a considerable number of teachers from those panels. To allocate teachers from panels to the areas in need seems to be a neat solution to the problem but one has to consider the school from which the teacher has been called off on the panel. Naturally that school feel they have every right to retain that teacher but that is a separate question which I addressed earlier. With regard to the movement of teachers from a school where a teacher is deemed to be over quota, that is a question we have constantly under review.
When will newly qualified teachers be given jobs in primary schools? Reference has already been made to the number of new teachers who cannot get jobs and who are going to waste here and elsewhere. Has any consideration been given to a request made some time ago to set up a panel of supply teachers who would do replacement work for teachers who are out of school work because of in-service courses, the introduction of the new syllabus or because of the introduction of additional language teaching and so on? Has the Minister given any consideration either to the introduction of job sharing in primary schools——
I appeal for brevity, especially at this stage.
——having regard to the large number of newly qualified teachers whose energy and expertise is going to waste?
We are coming to the end of the time allocated for priority questions.
It is not clear to me whether the Deputy is referring to primary or post-primary teachers.
Primary teachers.
Quite a considerable number of newly qualified teachers are working the career break scheme and maternity leave and general absence from work of the appointed teachers and in that way they are gaining valuable experience. The Deputy asked about a panel or supplementary list of teachers who would be available. That matter can be considered. The Deputy also asked about job sharing at primary level. We have not received proposals for that but if the unions come forward with ideas we will certainly be prepared to consider them.