Vol. 398 No. 2
17 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a facility to allow teachers in permanent posts to exchange with other teachers in permanent posts in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The introduction of a teacher exchange scheme for permanent posts in primary schools would require the agreement of school management authorities and the teachers' representative organisation.
My Department had discussions on the matter — some quite recently — with representatives of those bodies. A difficulty arises in reconciling the implications of such a proposal with the autonomy of boards of management in making appointments in schools. It is not clear at present how this difficulty may be resolved. We are still talking about it.
Would the Minister agree that if, for instance, for serious domestic reasons an exchange of posts would serve genuine humanitarian considerations and if there was no educational disadvantages to schools and the boards of management had no problem with it, that type of exchange should be authorised? Furthermore, would she agree it might very well be in the interests of teachers' careers to change schools and teach in different types of schools in different environments? In circumstances in which there is no objection from boards of management would she see her way to authorising that type of exchange?
I have advocated — as has the Deputy — that, where the two boards of management in question were in agreement on a transfer system, they, the patrons, should so allow. I thought that was a matter that could be resolved in that way. However, when it was put to the management authorities — I mean the executive wing of management — they expressed objections regarding the introduction of this exchange scheme for the following reasons: they said it would interfere with the right of a board of management to appoint the teacher most suitable for a post to their school and would interfere with the board's authority as employer. It is proposed to hold further meetings to discuss the issue in order to ascertain whether those difficulties can be overcome. If it is a case of a mutual transfer, one which receives the agreement of the individual boards of management, it seems to me a great effort should be made, that the overall management body should agree to such a mutual transfer.
