Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2001

Vol. 537 No. 5

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Michael Creed

Ceist:

545 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will enable teachers who are due to retire to do so at the end of the previous school year nearest to their retirement date by giving them automatic entitlement to any further pay increments or increases which would have become due had they waited until their exact retirement date, thus minimising the disruption to individual schools. [16678/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

By retirement date, I understand that the Deputy is referring to the date on which the teacher reaches age 65. The vast majority of public servants must retire not later than their 65th birthdays but, in the interests of continuity of tuition, teachers may continue to serve until the end of the school year in which they reach that age.

Teachers may retire voluntarily on reaching age 55, provided they have 35 years service, or at any time after reaching age 60. Teachers who become eligible for retirement during the course of the school year sometimes exercise the option to retire immediately. Three months notice is nor mally required by school management, excluding the summer holiday period.

Proposals for change in the conditions of service of teachers are matters for the Teachers' Conciliation Council. The Teachers' Conciliation Council consists of representatives of school management, teachers' unions, the Department of Finance and my Department.