Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 March 2013
11. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will list in tabular form the numbers of teachers, on a county basis, who in the 2012-13 academic year have been employed on a temporary basis; and the action being taken to address the problems arising from the casualisation of work practices in the teaching profession. [11993/13]
View answer60. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will list in tabular form the numbers of post primary school teachers who, since 2010, have been awarded full-time contracts under the European contracts of indefinitive duration directive; if he will provide a breakdown of teachers who have been awarded full-time contracts on hours that are less than the maximum 22 hours per week. [11994/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 60 together.
The information on the numbers of teachers is shown in the following tables. There are about 1,300 teachers directly involved. Fixed term and part-time teachers in primary schools who satisfy certain eligibility criteria can apply to be placed on a supplementary panel for access to permanent posts. The criteria and other details regarding the operation of the panel are set out in Department Circular 0038/2012.
The issue of the use of temporary and part-time contracts in the teaching profession has been a matter for discussion both at the Teachers Conciliation Council and the recent negotiations on an extension to the Croke Park agreement.
The public service trade unions are currently considering the outcome of these negotiations.
Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive Post Primary Schools
Full time CID appointments (22 hours)
|
2010/11 |
469 |
|
2011/12 |
660 |
|
2012/13 (to date) |
585 |
Number of CID appointments of less than 22 hours each year
|
2010/11 |
219 |
|
2011/12 |
277 |
|
2012/13 (to date) |
203 |
Number of Regular Part Time (RPT) appointments
|
2010/11 |
1905 |
|
2011/12 |
2040 |
|
2012/13 (to date) |
2104 |
Secondments, career break, job sharing replacements are employed as RPT contracts RPT contracts may roll over on an annual basis depending on school allocation. The RPT figures include new and roll over contract numbers.
Numbers of temporary primary contracts by county in school year 2011/2012*
|
CARLOW |
42 |
|
CAVAN |
63 |
|
CLARE |
70 |
|
CORK |
355 |
|
DONEGAL |
83 |
|
DUBLIN |
831 |
|
GALWAY |
158 |
|
KERRY |
86 |
|
KILDARE |
164 |
|
KILKENNY |
60 |
|
LAOIS |
45 |
|
LEITRIM |
17 |
|
LIMERICK |
121 |
|
LONGFORD |
25 |
|
LOUTH |
92 |
|
MAYO |
83 |
|
MEATH |
130 |
|
MONAGHAN |
36 |
|
OFFALY |
66 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
33 |
|
SLIGO |
41 |
|
TIPPERARY |
72 |
|
WATERFORD |
59 |
|
WESTMEATH |
64 |
|
WEXFORD |
94 |
|
WICKLOW |
88 |
*Includes short term and long term temporary appointments.
I am sure the Minister will agree that the casualisation of work practices in the teaching profession is having a demoralising effect on newly qualified teachers. It is clear from OECD figures that about 73% of Irish post-primary teachers are in permanent positions compared to Denmark where the percentage is in the mid-90s. It is estimated that about 27% of teachers are on a contract basis. When a teacher is on a contract basis, it is a very difficult situation. We expect teachers to deliver a high quality education yet many are demoralised and do not feel appreciated. The Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection, of which I am a member, has returned from a recent trip to Finland where we studied the education system. The one thing we took from that trip was the high regard in which the teaching profession was held within society. The profession is held in higher regard than that of doctors and lawyers. It is practically the top profession and there is much respect for it. There is a misconception among the public that everyone in the teaching profession is in a full-time position but that is not the case. Many of our young teachers are struggling from week to week to find work, not to mention paying bills and putting food on the table. It is an issue that will have to be addressed by the unions, the Department and the Teaching Council.
I share the Deputy's view. The matter was brought to my attention when I was in Opposition and in my first year as Minister. Part of the outcome of Croke Park II will move in the direction of improving that overall situation. The problem is acute at the post-primary sector where there are subject teachers as distinct from teachers of young children. I share the Deputy's view. If we do not have teachers who are self-respecting in their own job and who feel they are appreciated, we will not get the best returns. They are among the lessons that can be learned from the Finnish experience. I hope we can move to improve the contractual arrangements and to reduce the amount of casual employment.
It is important because as has been pointed out, this pertains in the main to post-primary teachers. Much work will be undertaken in reforming the junior certificate cycle and that continuity of service among teachers is needed.
Yes, it is.
The last thing one needs when undertaking such a radical reform of the junior certificate cycle is to have teachers in schools who will not be there from one end of the year to the next. This issue must be addressed.
I agree.
The issue of casualisation of the teaching profession at both primary and second level has become a real problem and I ask the Minister to comment on a particular matter about which I also seek some leniency from him. I refer to the position at primary level with regard to the temporary panel of teachers. Teachers who have completed three years of teaching are eligible to be placed on a temporary panel but this year, the closing date for this panel was brought back from the end of February to the end of December. As a result, a significant number of applications arrived late to the Department. This issue affects teachers who have completed three years but who now face the prospect of missing out on that panel, in many cases through no fault of their own, on foot of the date being brought forward and their not having been made aware of the relevant circular. I already have contacted the Department of Education and Skills on this issue but have not received a positive response. However, I ask the Minister whether there may be a way, in respect of those teachers who made late applications, for the Department to reassess the deadline for the temporary panel, thereby giving them some certainty regarding teaching posts from next September.
Through the Chair, I will have that matter considered and will revert specifically to the Deputy to see if something can be done in this regard. I am aware it is a problem.
