Vol. 513 No. 6
76 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the period for which a principal is appointed to hold office; at whose discretion this period is set; and his views on a policy of renewable or non-renewable fixed term contracts. [3070/00]
Under current arrangements, principals generally remain in their post until retirement age.
In the case of a Catholic voluntary secondary school the trustees may appoint a suitably qualified religious or clerical principal if they so wish. In such a case, the trustees determine the duration of the appointment.
The appointment of a principal to a primary school is by open competition except in the case of convent and monastery schools. In the event that the authorities of the religious order concerned wish to appoint a member of the order to the post of principal, the board of management is required to do so, subject to the prior approval of the patron and the Minister. The person appointed must, of course, be qualified for the post. In such cases the duration of the appointment is determined by the religious order.
Any changes in the conditions of service of principals, including the question of renewable or non-renewable fixed term contracts, would have to be discussed with the relevant interests within agreed industrial relations procedures. In this context my Department is currently examining the recommendations of the working group on the role of the primary school principal one of which relates to this issue.
