Vol. 548 No. 2
451 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of eligible part- time teachers employed in post primary schools; his proposals to create permanent posts for these teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4573/02]
According to my Department's records, there are 1,683 eligible part-time teachers, EPT, employed in secondary and community-comprehensive schools in the current school year. My Department has requested vocational education committees to submit the relevant details in respect of the VEC sector and, as soon as they have been received and compiled, they will be forwarded to the Deputy.
Vacancies in schools arising from career breaks, approved leave of absence or secondments and concessionary posts, which are allocated in excess of a school's normal quota of posts, may only be filled in a temporary or part-time capacity. In addition, in order to ensure that schools have the flexibility to meet the curricular needs of their students, particularly in minority subject areas, it is necessary for them to appoint temporary or part-time teachers.
Under the terms of the EPT scheme, EPTs who are fully qualified and have given satisfactory service are re-employed on a contract basis from year to year where the same teaching hours are required. Most teachers, who are initially employed as EPTs, subsequently apply for and are appointed to permanent teaching posts in their subject area. They are entitled to incremental and pension credit for their qualified EPT service, together with recognition of this service for promotion purposes.
The job security of temporary teachers is related to the number and type of posts available. In this regard the position at second level has significantly improved in recent years. Over 1,200 additional posts were created in the sector since the 1999-2000 school year. A further 400 posts will be created for the 2002-2003 school year under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
