Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 November 2006
319 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has a function in determining the number of permanent teaching staff to be allocated to each primary and secondary school throughout the country; if so, the function; if her Department has the authority to specify that certain staff positions be made permanent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37030/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt primary level, all mainstream class teaching posts allocated under the Primary Staffing Schedule which issues on an annual basis, are regarded as permanent posts.
Learning Support/Resource teacher posts and Resource teacher posts at primary level may be made permanent in accordance with the criteria outlined in my Department's Circular 0036/2006 which is available on the Department website www.education.ie. Posts allocated to primary schools where a teacher is on approved leave, such as a career break, are regarded as temporary.
At second level, teacher allocations are approved by my Department on an annual basis in accordance with generally applied rules based on recognised pupil enrolments on the 30th of September of the preceding school year. The number of posts in any particular school which can be filled in a permanent capacity cannot exceed the allocation warranted by the enrolment and approved ex quota posts such as Principal, Deputy Principal, Guidance and Remedial/ Learning Support. Vacancies in second level schools arising from career breaks, approved leave of absence, or secondments and concessionary posts, which are allocated in excess of a school's normal quota of posts, may only be filled in a temporary or part-time capacity.
