Teachers' Remuneration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 March 2013

Thursday, 7 March 2013

Questions (103)

Pat Deering

Question:

103. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills if both the principals and deputy principals' allowances are based on the maximum number of teachers based in their school, irrespective of their current staff numbers; the number of schools both primary and post-primary in which such a scenario exists; if he will provide a breakdown of the additional costings associated with same; and his plans to change this system to achieve savings in the future. [12253/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The level of allowance payable to Principals and Deputy Principals in Primary and Post Primary schools is based on the number of authorised teaching posts which have been sanctioned in the year in which the posts of responsibility accrue. Principal and Deputy Principal allowances may increase if the number of teachers in the school increase provided this results in a change of category. However, allowances held by Principals and Deputy Principals are not impacted during the tenure of the Principal/Deputy Principal if the number of teachers in the school decreases. New appointees will be remunerated at the revised allowance applicable at the time of appointment based on staffing levels at that time. Collating information on the numbers of principals and deputy principals within the education system who are in receipt of allowances based on historical teacher numbers and allocating an ongoing cost to this would involve an inordinate amount of administrative time to compile.