Vol. 495 No. 6
41 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers at first and second level granted early retirement during the 1997-98 school year; the number of such applications with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20745/98]
A total of 138 teachers, consisting of 41 first level teachers and 97 second level teachers, have been granted early retirement under the provisions notified to schools in connection with the 1997-98 school year. Decisions have yet to be made in the case of five applicants at first level and one at second level. In the case of one of the first level applicants, who has applied for early retirement on the grounds that he is experiencing professional difficulties in carrying out his teaching duties, the position is that my Department has received further information from the management of the school and this information is now being considered by the early retirement advisory committee.
A decision in the case of the remaining five applicants, who have applied for early retirement on the grounds that they are in schools which have posts which are surplus to requirements, is dependent on the outcome of procedures for the filling of vacancies and the redeployment of teachers who are surplus to requirements. It is expected that the outcome of these procedures will be known, and a decision on all outstanding applications will be given, during the month of November.
