Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

A total of 850 primary teachers have retired on pension to date in 2009 and the corresponding figure for secondary, community and comprehensive schools is 738.

Within the overall total, 253 principals have retired from primary schools while 68 principals have retired from secondary, community and comprehensive schools. Deputy principal retirements total 260 of which 208 were primary and 52 were from secondary, community and comprehensive schools.

Also within the overall total, assistant principals account for 588 retirements of whom 132 retired from primary schools and 456 from secondary, community and comprehensive schools. Some 171 teachers with special duties posts retired from primary schools while 104 retired from secondary, community and comprehensive schools.

While these figures do not include retirements in the VEC sector for which my Department does not have figures as they are not on the payroll, there has been a significant increase in retirement numbers in this sector also. Teachers who have the requisite service or reached a specified age threshold are required to give three months notice to the board of management of their school of their intention to retire.

The vast majority of teachers choose to retire before reaching mandatory retirement age. This year some 88% of primary school retirements and 84% of secondary, community and comprehensive school retirements fall into this category.

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