Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2011
133 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the action she is taking in respect of correspondence sent to the Department by the principal of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 regarding the reappointment of posts of responsibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3343/11]
View answerWhen the moratorium was introduced the Government exempted Principal and Deputy Principal posts in all primary and post-primary schools and these continue to be replaced in the normal manner. The impact of the moratorium is therefore limited to the Assistant Principal and Special Duties allowances payable to teachers on promotion. Vacancies at Assistant Principal and Special Duties level arise due to retirements in these specific grades and typically also from the knock on effect of filling Principal and Deputy Principal posts. What the school loses is the capacity to make a promotion by awarding the extra pay allowance to another teacher. The position whereby almost 50% of all teachers have promotion allowances is simply not sustainable. It is a matter for each school authority to re-organise and prioritise the appropriate duties for post of responsibility holders in the context of implementing this moratorium.
Some further limited alleviation was announced in July 2010 for schools that are acutely affected by the impact of the moratorium at Assistant Principal level. The alleviation arrangements are set out in the published Department Circular 42/2010. Applications for alleviation have been received from over 120 primary schools and this includes an application from the school referred to by the Deputy. These are currently being examined and prioritised and the schools will be advised of the outcome in the coming weeks.
