Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 Jun 1994

Vol. 443 No. 8

Written Answers. - Eligibility for Teaching Posts.

Richard Bruton

Question:

94 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that temporary teachers who have been working in their post for less than two years in the secondary voluntary sector are deemed ineligible to apply for that post when it is made permanent; her views on whether such rules would be deemed to be in breach of the Unfair Dismissals Act if they were operated by a private sector employer; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Under the rules for the payment of incremental salary to secondary teachers, the Department pays incremental salary grant to all teachers who have been nominated by school management subject to the limit of the authorised quota and to those teachers being registered in accordance with the regulations for the Register of Intermediate School Teachers. The Department also acts as paying agent on behalf of these school for the disbursal of incremental salary grant to eligible teachers.

Apart from that, the Department has no function in relation to the selection of applicants for the filling of posts, whether permanent or otherwise, in schools in the voluntary secondary sector. These schools are private institutions under independent management.

In referring to an eligibility requirement of two years service, I assume that the Deputy is referring to the terms of a redeployment scheme agreed between the religious/clerical authorities of the Catholic secondary schools and the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland. Included in that scheme is a supplementary panel of temporary teachers from which certain vacancies are filled. I am aware that temporary teachers must have two years service in a participating school before they can be placed on this panel. However, the operation of this scheme is essentially a matter for the participating parties, i.e. the authorities of the schools, which are private institutions, and the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland.