Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
727. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education the criteria used for the recruitment of teachers, principals, SNAs and boards of management in school settings; if this recruitment could be done on the public jobs forum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63269/21]
View answerThe recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012).
In accordance with Department Circular 31/ 2011 and Circular 0044/2019 schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers and ensure that unemployed teachers should be offered employment in preference to those who have retired. Circular 31/2011 and Circular 0044/2019 details a cascade of measures for the recruitment of teachers, prioritising registered teachers over retired registered teachers and unregistered people. These measures were taken in an effort to increase employment opportunities for unemployed teachers.
For post primary schools , Circular 04/98, Circular PPT05/02, Circular PPT06/02, Circular PPT07/02 sets out the recruitment and appointment procedures for Principals and Deputy Principals. Circular 20/2012 states the post of Principal and Deputy Principal should be advertised on www.publicjobs.ie. All other teaching posts should be advertised on www.educationposts.ie. Any changes to the list of websites are a matter for the management bodies.
For primary schools , Circular 0044/2019 sets out the recruitment and appointment procedures for teaching posts (chapter 2) and for Principal and Deputy Principal posts (chapter 4). This circular sets out the advertising procedures for Principal and Deputy Principal posts and states “Vacancies must be advertised on at least one of the websites as approved by the Management Bodies and should be notified to all teaching staff in the school including teaching staff on approved leave.” While the advertising procedures for teaching posts are set out as: “All vacancies anticipated to be of a duration of 24 calendar weeks or more shall be advertised on at least one of the websites approved by the Management Bodies and shall be notified to all fixed-term primary teaching staff in the school/ETB including those on leave of absence.” As provided for in the Action Plan for Teacher Supply, a new central portal for the recruitment of teachers to long term positions is at an advanced stage of development.
Department Circulars 26/2021 and 51/2019 sets out the recruitment and appointment procedures for SNA appointments . All standard SNA vacancies and cover SNA vacancies of 24 weeks or more must be advertised on one of the websites below. SNA vacancies may also be advertised locally as deemed necessary.
- www.educationposts.ie
- www.staffroom.ie
- www.educationcareers.ie
- www.educatetogether.ie
- www.jobsireland.ie
- Any Education and Training Board websites
In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the appointment of a board of management of a school is a matter for the relevant school patron. The Act provides, inter alia, that it is the duty of the Board to manage the school on behalf of the patron. Boards of management are required to comply with the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the relevant rules for schools and the terms of circulars issued by my Department.
All Department circulars are available on the gov.ie website.
