Vol. 450 No. 4
69 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Education, in relation to jobs recently announced for 1995 at primary and post-primary level, the number of teaching jobs at each level which will be net new posts at that level in 1995; if she will outline the increase in the overall number of teachers; the recruitment proposals, if any, she has; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5104/95]
Provision has been made for an additional 700 posts at post-primary level with effect from the beginning of the 1995-96 school year.
These additional posts, as well as providing for projected increased enrolments will cater for additional remedial, guidance, resource and home-school links posts. They will also provide for the appointment of a second vice-principal in the larger schools in the free education scheme, the expansion of the visiting teacher service for travellers at second level and the establishment of a welfare service for teachers.
As regards recruitment, teaching posts in the vocational and community and comprehensive sectors are normally filled through public competition. Recruitment to teaching posts in secondary schools must have regard to the terms of the redeployment scheme, where appropriate.
At primary level 342 posts which would have been lost due to declining enrolments in the 1994-95 school year are being retained. The retention of these posts will allow the pupil teacher ratio for primary schools to be reduced from 23.4:1 in September 1994 to 22.9:1 in September 1995.
The retention of these posts will also facilitate an improvement in the staffing schedule, a two unit reduction in the general maximum class size guidelines, the allocation of additional remedial, resource, home school liaison and visiting teacher posts and a reduction in the pupil teacher ratio for the special schools.
Teachers in primary schools whose posts are no longer warranted because of declining enrolments are placed on diocesan panels for redeployment. A board of management which has a teaching vacancy must fill the post by taking a teacher from the appropriate panel. If the appropriate panel is clear the post may be filled by open competition.
