School Staffing

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 February 2012

Tuesday, 14 February 2012

Questions (190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195)

Finian McGrath

Question:

224 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school teachers in each county who retired in December 2011. [7902/12]

Finian McGrath

Question:

225 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school teachers in each county who retired in January 2012. [7903/12]

Finian McGrath

Question:

226 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school teachers in each county who have indicated their intentions to retire in February 2012. [7904/12]

Finian McGrath

Question:

227 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of post-primary teachers in each county who retired in December 2011. [7905/12]

Finian McGrath

Question:

228 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of post-primary teachers in each county who retired in January 2012. [7906/12]

Finian McGrath

Question:

229 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of post-primary teachers in each county who have indicated their intention to retire in February 2012. [7907/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 to 229, inclusive, together.

The information sought by the Deputy is not compiled in the format sought. Officials in the Pension Unit of my Department are currently fully occupied addressing the pension benefit entitlements for those who are retiring at this time. The number of teachers in Primary Secondary, Community and Comprehensive schools who have applied to retire in the period 1 December 2011 to 29 February 2012 is detailed in the attached table. Information received from the Vocational Education Sector indicate that 220 teachers have applied to retire in that sector during that period.

A circular was issued by my Department, in July, 2011 requesting School Boards of Management to inform all staff in their schools (who are members of an occupation pension scheme) who intend to retire on or before 29 February 2012 that they are required to give 3 calendar months' notice of their date of retirement. The circular also stated that a notification may not be withdrawn on or after the date indicated as the last day of service. It was pointed out in that circular that failure to give the required notice could result in a delay in payment of pension benefits.

Accordingly, the actual number retiring will not be accurately known until after 29 February, 2012. When the work of processing pension benefits for those retiring has been addressed it is intended to commence work on compiling detailed statistical data on the number of teachers who retired and to publish this information on my Departments' website.

Primary Secondary Community and Comprehensive Teachers Retirements based on applications received.

Month	Primary	Secondary and C+C	Total
December 2011	142	110	252
January 2012	136	61	197
February 2012	532	437	969
Total for Period	810	608	1,418