Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Jun 1993

Vol. 431 No. 6

Written Answers. - School Appointments.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

138 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education her views on whether national schools in acutely disadvantaged areas with serious discipline problems are adversely affected by the panel system and in some specific instances cannot fill their vacancies until every other school has filled theirs and on the fact that this can influence the quality of the teachers available to them and only serves to compound the schools problems; if she will allow a school (details supplied) in Dublin 1 to advertise a permanent position, in view of this; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

When making a permanent appointment, a Board of Management may select any teacher listed on the panel, and make him/her a firm offer in writing, of the post. A teacher on the panel must accept the post offered unless s/he can claim an exemption on the grounds that the school making the offer is more than 45km distant from their existing school. A teacher may not refuse a post on the grounds that s/he does not wish to teach there. If the teacher refuses the post or does not reply within seven days, the Board of Management should advise my Department immediately. No further action should be taken by the Board of Management pending contact from my Department.

In these circumstances my Department will write to the teacher concerned reminding him/her of the obligations placed upon him/her in exercising his/her panel rights and instructing him/her to accept the post within seven days. If the teacher does not accept the post s/he will forfeit panel rights and be taken off salary in due course.

It is open to schools to fill their vacancies by open competition only if the panel is clear. In the case of Rutland Street national school there is a teacher in the school who is currently on the fifth year of a career break and has deferred panel rights. The school authorities have not as yet been able to ascertain whether this teacher intends to resume in September, 1993. If the teacher resumes the Board of Management may place her in the vacancy. However, if the Board are informed that she will not be resuming, the Board should make a firm offer to one of the teachers on the Dublin panel as previously outlined.