Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 12 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 2

Written Answers. - Teacher Appointments.

Austin Currie

Ceist:

54 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Education and Science if the appointment of assistant principals will result in the loss of four class contract hours for each post; the number of these posts being created; and the provisions he is making to make up those teaching hours in schools affected. [3662/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

Class contact for teachers in second level schools is 22 hours per week. There is no provision in the voluntary secondary sector for a reduction in class contact hours for assistant principals. In the case of vocational and community and comprehensive schools the class contact hours of assistant principals are reduced by four.

Under the terms of the revised proposals for agreement on the pay and conditions of teachers under theProgramme for Competitiveness and Work approximately 1,300 additional assistant principal posts will be created. These will be allocated as follows: approximately 400 in vocational schools, approximately 200 in community and comprehensive schools and the balance in voluntary secondary schools. The Programme for Competitiveness and Work agreement did not provide for a specific additional teaching allocation to be made to school authorities arising from the creation of these assistant principal posts. However, the position of individual community and comprehensive schools and vocational education committees will be considered in the context of curricular concessions within available resources.