Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

The Minister has just informed the Dáil that 810 posts and 355 posts at post-primary level and primary level, respectively, have been lost since the embargo was introduced, which is very serious. This pertains to 810 middle management posts, that is, year heads and teachers with responsibility for timetabling, examinations and programme delivery. A total of 810 of these important posts have been lost. That does not even take into account the number of teachers who will depart between the present and next September, as the Minister admitted in his reply. The Minister and his Department now accept that this is a blunt instrument and it is causing absolute havoc in some schools in which there has been a large number of retirements. I ask the Minister to do two things. First, does he agree that the position of the teaching unions in respect of non-co-operation is unacceptable and wrong? I agree that the Minister should tell the unions that they need to revoke the latest position and directive they have given their members. I accept his comments in this regard, but will he help them? I ask that he consider a proposal made by myself and others whereby there would be a minimum floor of appointments below which schools would not fall. This would help the situation. If the Minister were to tell the House that he was prepared to consider this or other proposals to alleviate the difficult positions of some schools, it might help the unions to consider the directive they have issued in recent weeks.

See this speech in context