Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
444. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all middle management posts lost in schools during the recession years will be restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32141/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2017 allowed for the commencement of restoration of middle management posts as part of an agreed distributed leadership model and meant lifting the long-standing moratorium on these posts with effect from the 2017/18 school year. This recognises the key role school leadership has in promoting a school environment which is welcoming, inclusive and accountable.
€2.75m was allocated in Budget 2017 to restore middle management positions i.e. the equivalent of approximately 1,300 middle management posts (Assistant Principal I and Assistant Principal II) at both Primary and Post-Primary (2,600 in total).
The lifting of the moratorium is an initial phase in the restoration of middle management posts and any future improvements to the number of posts allocated will be dependent on budgetary demands.
The circulars on leadership and management in both primary and post schools for the 2019/20 school year are currently being finalised and will be available on the Department website in due course. The Department has committed to revising the Posts of Responsibility table in the leadership and management circulars to take into account retirements during the school year. This ensures that the current level of Posts of Responsibilities are maintained in the school system.
The estimated cost of lifting the moratorium on posts of responsibility and restoring them to pre-moratorium levels would be in the order of €50m per annum.
