Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2009
270 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if a school which in 2008-09 was not over quota and allowed teachers job share and take career breaks will be given replacement teachers for those on job share or career breaks in 2009-10 while they are over quota due to changes in the staffing schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6831/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision to approve job-sharing and career break applications is a matter for the authorities of the employing school.
In the case of schools that have over-quota teachers, vacancies do not arise as a result of teachers approved for job-sharing or career break. This position is no different from that pertaining in previous years.
In these schools that have over-quota teachers, applications for job-sharing and a career break may be considered by the authorities of the schools concerned in the normal way. Because the school is over its allocation of teachers my Department will not give automatic replacements. It is, of course, open to the school authority to apply to my Department for additional teaching hours by way of curricular concessions to cover part or all of the hours in respect of an approved job-sharer/career break teacher. Each such application is considered on its merits.
271 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the additional cost in bringing back job sharing and career break teachers into their schools following the changes to the staffing schedule in order to replace non-permanent teachers who will face unemployment; the additional cost to his Department of this measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6832/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe terms of the career break and job sharing schemes for teachers remain unchanged. The decision to approve an application under either of these schemes is a matter for the authorities of the employing school.
In schools that have over-quota teachers, applications for job-sharing and a career break may be considered by the authorities of the schools concerned in the normal way. Because the school is over its allocation of teachers my Department will not give automatic replacements. It is, of course, open to the school authority to apply to my Department for additional teaching hours by way of curricular concessions to cover part or all of the hours in respect of an approved job-sharer/career break teacher. Each such application is considered on its merits.
In the case of schools that have over-quota teachers the non replacement of career break and job sharing teachers results in savings to the exchequer. This position is no different from that pertaining in previous years.
