Written Answers Nos. 113-116
113. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to address the problem of the ending of school transport for students with special needs when they reach a certain age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39428/14]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that Special Schools funded by my Department are intended to cater for children and young persons with special educational needs from 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year. At that point, the Department of Health/Health Service Executive assumes direct responsibility for young adults with special educational needs who are over 18 years. My Department, at that stage, may allocate resources towards an education component of such provision. Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for transport where they are attending the nearest recognised school that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs. Eligible children retain their transport eligibility while they remain enrolled in the special school.
114. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that retired teachers on pension are taking from young qualified teachers in schools, correcting, and supervision of examinations. [39430/14]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
115. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure young qualified teachers get work in preference to retired teachers. [39431/14]
View answerThe policy of my Department is to ensure, as far as possible, that the Managerial Authorities of schools give priority to unemployed registered teachers who are fully qualified when filling vacant teaching posts. It is schools that employ teachers and not my Department. However my Department has issued a number of Circulars addressing this issue in recent years.
Under these Circulars School Principals must maintain a list of unemployed registered teachers who are available for substitute work at short notice and report to the Board of Management on any exceptional occasion where they have to engage a registered teacher who is retired. Circular 31/2011 details a cascade of measures for the recruitment of teachers, prioritising registered teachers over retired registered teachers and unregistered people.
A retired teacher who returns to teaching on or after 1 February 2012 will commence at the first point of the incremental salary scale (i.e. the lowest point or starting salary for teachers). Incremental credit for service prior to 1 February 2012, qualification allowances and certain job role allowances are also not payable. This measure 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.
116. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of retired teachers at present filling in for maternity and sick leave in national and secondary schools. [39432/14]
View answerRetired teachers are employed in a substitute capacity for casual / non casual absences in primary and post primary schools. Because of the casual nature of the employment figures are compiled for specific periods. In December 2012 there were 174 primary and 91 post primary retired teachers who had worked for some period of time in the 2012/13 school year and in December 2013, 113 primary and 82 post primary retired teachers had been employed in the 2013/2014 school year. Figures for 14/15 school year are not available at this time.
Circular 31/2011 issued in May of 2011 and set out a cascading set of measures for appointment of teachers with effect from September 2011. These required that schools prioritise unemployed teachers over those in receipt of a pension where possible. Only where a school cannot source an appropriately qualified and registered teacher may they move to the recruitment of a retired appropriately qualified teacher.
