Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 July 2012
70 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider issuing a circular advising all schools that all new positions in schools, both temporary and permanent, must be advertised openly and fairly to enable all available teachers to apply for the position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34060/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures published under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998.
In May of last year, Circular 31/2011 detailed staged appointment procedures applicable to all posts from September 2011. These require schools at primary and post-primary level to maintain a list of appropriately qualified registered teachers who notify the school that they are available for substitute teaching at short notice.
Where a substitute teacher is needed at short notice and advertising for the position is not feasible, the school must contact a person on the list established by the school or use a national service such as SubSearch or TextaSub.
Vacancies of 24 weeks or more are governed under agreed appointment procedures at primary level (Contained within the "Constitution of Boards and Rules of Procedure" booklet which was last updated and published on 1st December 2011) or at Post Primary level (Circular 20/2012).
At primary level vacancies of 24 weeks or more must be advertised on one of the four listed websites, which include sites run by the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) and the management bodies. Vacancies for the post of principal may also be advertised on www.publicjobs.ie.
Circular 20/2012, applicable to the post-primary sector, issued in June 2012 and is removing the requirement to place advertisements in the national print media from 1st January 2013 in favour of internet based advertising of teaching posts. Current arrangements include the use of www.publicjobs.ie for Principal and Deputy Principal posts and www.educationposts.ie for all other teaching posts.
The selection of sites on which to advertise teaching positions or any changes to the current list of websites are a matter for the management bodies.
