Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2004
65 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the position with regard to a reported Department circular recommending that experienced principals who relinquish their posts to become classroom teachers should be forced to leave their schools; if he has plans to introduce such measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14353/04]
View answerMy Department has recently issued a circular, primary circular 02/04 seniority of primary teachers, to boards of management, principal teachers and all teaching staff in primary schools setting out the arrangements for determining seniority of teachers in primary schools and the responsibilities of the boards of management in this regard. The terms of the circular were agreed between my Department, school managerial representatives and teacher representatives.
The issue of the seniority of a principal teacher who relinquishes his or her post was also clarified in the circular. A principal teacher can only relinquish a post of principal teacher provided there is a permanent vacancy in the school. When a principal teacher relinquishes the post of principal she or he becomes the most junior teacher in the school. Previous service given as a principal in the school does not count for seniority purposes.
The staffing of a primary school for a school year is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on the 30 September of the previous school year. The staffing schedule governing the appointment and retention of mainstream class teachers is finalised for a particular year following discussions between officials from my Department and the education partners.
There are no plans to change the arrangements for the application of the staffing schedule and the operation of redeployment panels. Under these arrangements, if the enrolment figure in a school falls below the retention figure a mainstream class post is suppressed and the most junior teacher in the school can opt to have his or her name placed on the panel for redeployment to another school.
