School Staffing.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 October 2009

Wednesday, 7 October 2009

Ceisteanna (284)

Michael Creed

Ceist:

374 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on an initiative to encourage school principals and boards of management to favour young unemployed teaching graduates for temporary teaching positions that arise in their school as opposed to offering these positions to teachers who have voluntarily retired from their teaching positions in view of the number of unemployed teaching graduates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34650/09]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe)

It is established policy of my Department that qualified personnel should be employed as teachers in schools.

At the annual conference of AMCSS earlier this year I spoke of the need to encourage schools to give priority to newly or recently qualified teachers when making appointments for periods of substitution cover.

I believe it is essential that every opportunity is given for teachers who are not in work to teach and am requesting school authorities to bear this in mind throughout the current school year.