Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 2 Oct 1997

Vol. 480 No. 8

Written Answers. - Redeployment Panel.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

121 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the investigations, if any, he has had into problems which arose in Cork where seven teaching vacancies remained unfilled due to problem with the redeployment panel; if he will review the system to overcome such difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15266/97]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The regulations governing the redeployment panel result from an agreement negotiated in 1937 between the Catholic bishops and the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO).

The agreement is incorporated into the Rules for National Schools.

Generally speaking, the redeployment panels operate very efficiently and I have no immediate plans to initiate a review of the system.

The Catholic panels are compiled on a diocesan basis. Accordingly, each diocese has its own panel and the diocesan office in each area is custodian of the panel. The Department's role is to administer the scheme as agreed between the two parties.

The regulations provide for a system whereby permanent assistant teachers in national schools whose posts are being suppressed due to insufficient enrolments may be redeployed to posts in other schools.

I am aware of certain problems in the operation of the panel in the Cork area. I would like to reassure the Deputy that senior officials of my Department are monitoring the situation on a daily basis in consultation with the Cork diocesan office and the INTO with a view to finding a resolution to the problems.