Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2013
214. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills his policy with regard to the way it is permissible for retired teachers to continue to gain employment in the education system post their retirement. [19737/13]
View answer215. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will justify the way a teacher (details supplied) in County Monaghan who retired more than four years ago from one school, has been employed since in another school on a regular part-time basis and has subsequently been awarded the position of chairperson of a county vocational education committee in the context of so many unemployed young teachers. [19738/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together.
Circular 31/2011 details a cascade of measures for recruitment of teachers, prioritising unemployed registered teachers over retired registered teachers and registered teachers over unregistered people. It is important to note that boards of management of schools and vocational education committees employ teachers and not the Department of Education and Skills.
Under the current circulars, each Principal must report to his or her board of management on a regular basis on the fact that a list of unemployed registered teachers is being maintained, and the circumstances in which he or she has had to engage a registered teacher who is retired or an unregistered person.
From January 2011 teachers who are in receipt of a pension and who return to teaching are paid at the first point of the relevant salary scale applicable to new entrants. This represents a significant financial disincentive for teachers who retired at the top of their salary scale, often with a post of responsibility allowance, to return to teaching.
The Department monitors the engagement of retired teachers in schools. Where there is long-term engagement of such teachers, those schools are written to and are reminded of the provisions of Circular 31/2011.
The individual to whom the Deputy refers is employed by County Monaghan Vocational Education Committee which is a statutory body established under the Vocational Education Acts. The issue raised in relation to him relates fundamentally to the employer/employee relationship. Employment information relating to this person is not held by my Department.
