Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2022
482. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if the attention of her Department has been drawn to issues relating to the recruitment and retention of school principals; and if so, the actions that it is taking to address them. [52036/22]
View answerMy Department offers an Employee Assistance Service (EAS) for all school staff in recognised primary and post primary schools. This free service includes a wide range of supports including a confidential 24/7 helpline, short-term counselling, a wellbeing portal and webinars. It also provides advice and support to managers to help them deal with health and wellbeing issues in the workplace.
The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts including Principal posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012).
My Department recruitment and appointment circulars set out the relevant qualifications for appointment to the post of Principal. Section 4 of Chapter 4 of Circular 0044/2019 sets out the eligibility criteria for appointment to the post of Principal:
"On application for the post of Principal/Deputy Principal the applicant must meet the eligibility criteria for the setting in which the vacancy arises.
Primary schools with less than 80 pupils
Fully registered under Route 1 (Primary) with the Teaching Council.
Primary schools with 80 pupils or more
Fully registered under Route 1 (Primary) with the Teaching Council and have 5 years recognised teaching service, two of which must be in a recognised primary school within the Republic of Ireland.
Special Schools
Fully registered under Route 1 (Primary) or Route 4 (Other) with the Teaching Council and have 5 years recognised teaching service, two of which must be in a recognised primary school within the Republic of Ireland.
Special School where children are enrolled up to the age of 18 years of age
Fully registered under Route 1 (Primary), Route 4 (Other) or Route 2 (Post Primary) with the Teaching Council and have 5 years recognised teaching service, two of which must be in a recognised primary school or post-primary school within the Republic of Ireland".
Circular letters 05/02, 06/02 & 07/02 set out the eligibility criteria for appointment to the post of Principal in a Post Primary setting: "Candidates for appointment to the post of Principal or Deputy Principal will be required to have a minimum of five years’ whole-time teaching service or its equivalent".
