Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Retirements at primary level since the introduction of the moratorium in March 2009 were 309 principals, 260 deputy principals, 145 assistant principals and 223 teachers with special duties posts of responsibility. This is based on Department held data. Vacancies at assistant principal and special duties level arise due to retirements in these specific grades and typically also from the knock-on effect of filling principal and deputy principal posts.

When the moratorium was introduced the Government exempted principal and deputy principal appointments in all primary and post-primary schools and these continue to be replaced in the normal manner. The impact of the moratorium is therefore limited to the assistant principal and special duties allowances payable to teachers on promotion.

Unlike other areas of the public service retirement vacancies are actually being filled and what the school loses is the capacity to make a promotion by awarding the extra pay allowance to another teacher. The position whereby just over 50% of all teachers have promotion allowances is simply not sustainable.

Further retirements and promotions later this year will impact further on middle management posts. I am conscious that the impact of the moratorium on middle management posts has applied unevenly in schools and as I have already acknowledged the impact is not just due to the level of retirements but also as a consequence of promotions that are made to principal and deputy principal posts. Discussions are ongoing with the Department of Finance in relation to some limited alleviation for schools that are actually affected by the impact of the moratorium. Schools will be advised of the outcome of the discussions at the earliest possible stage so that they can plan ahead for the coming school year.

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