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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Mar 1995

Vol. 450 No. 4

Written Answers. - Teachers' Early Retirement.

Peadar Clohessy

Question:

14 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Education the further meetings, if any, she has had with the Teachers' Organisations in relation to early retirement. [5120/95]

Question:

74 Mr. Ahern asked the Minister for Education her views on the propriety of certain teachers being given an early retirement package. [4940/95]

Brendan McGahon

Question:

84 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for Education if she will improve the retirement option for primary school teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4950/95]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 74 and 84 together.

I had meetings with the three teacher unions in late January on A Government of Renewal policy agreement. At each of these meetings the issue of early retirement for teachers was referred to in the context of the provision in the policy agreement on the “conclusion of negotiations on optional retirement for teachers”.

A joint claim from the teachers' unions for early retirement has been discussed at the Teachers' Conciliation Council. Discussions on the teachers' claim involved three element viz: (i) early retirement for teachers who no longer find themselves able to function at an acceptable level of professional performance; (ii) early retirement for teachers who are surplus to requirements but who cannot readily be transferred elsewhere; and (iii) general early retirement for teachers.
Progress in negotiations on early retirement arrangements for teachers experiencing professional difficulties and for surplus teachers could not be advanced because the teacher unions would not discuss these issues further until they received a response to the question of a general early retirement provision.
At a meeting of the Teachers' Conciliation Council on 10 February 1995 a response was made to the question of a general early retirement provision on the basis of equalising early retirement provision for post-primary and primary teachers. However, the teacher unions rejected the response and discussions were adjourned. Since then officials of my Department have had informal contacts with the teacher unions and arrangements for the resumption of discussions with the assistance of a facilitator have been agreed.
I have, in consultation with Government colleagues and with the agreement of the teacher unions, appointed Mr. Seán Healy, Director of the Advisory Service of the Labour Relations Commission, to facilitate the discussions and to report to me on the outcome of these discussions. As discussions under the facilitator have commenced I am sure that the Deputies will agree that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.
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