Peter Mathews
Ceist:179 Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to create jobs for graduate teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11425/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 17 May 2011
Ceisteanna (148)
Freagraí scríofa
The process of allocating teaching resources to schools for 2011/2012 and the arrangements for filling vacant or new teaching posts, including temporary posts, takes place in the context of the EU/IMF Programme of Support for Ireland and the Public Service Agreement 2010/2014. It is necessary for my Department to exercise additional control and reporting measures this year to ensure that the numbers of teachers employed in schools is consistent with the EU/IMF Programme of Support for Ireland. This requires that all permanent and fixed term positions are in the first instance made available to those surplus teachers with either permanent contracts or contracts of indefinite duration before they can be filled in any other manner such as by fixed-term teachers or by graduates.
Circular 66/2010 issued by my Department permits schools to participate in the FÁS Work Placement Programme (WPP). This programme is intended to assist people who are unemployed to retain their skills levels and secure work experience that will assist them in finding employment. This involves a placement for a defined period, rather than employment, and participants in this voluntary programme may be entitled to maintain their social welfare entitlements subject to the rules of the Department of Social Protection.