Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
874. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 1078 of 26 July 2022, the status of the matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42980/22]
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, www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0031_2011.pdf (post primary), which sets out the current conditions of employment for teachers, 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 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.
Section 3.4 of Circular 31/2011 states where an employer can satisfactorily demonstrate that every reasonable effort has been made to recruit an appropriately qualified registered teacher, a teacher registered under any regulation of the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009 may be appointed pending the recruitment of an appropriately qualified registered teacher. The contract of employment must include a condition that the contract will terminate on the recruitment of an appropriately qualified registered teacher or the following 31 August, whichever happens first. Remuneration will be at the unqualified rate of pay.
The application of the conditions set out in Circular 31/2011 with regard to Further Education qualified and registered teachers teaching in the Post-Primary Sector remains unchanged at this time. Any amendments to Teacher Terms and Conditions, can only be achieved through engagement and collective bargaining agreements between the Government and the public service unions or through the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC) forum.
