Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While 153 retired teachers is a small number relative to the overall amount, given the number of newly qualified teachers who are struggling to find work, it is unacceptable that the circular issued by the Department is being flouted by so many schools. It is up to the schools to employ the teachers, but when the Department issues a circular instructing that priority must be given to newly qualified teachers, that needs to be done.

The Minister outlined the feedback from schools - I know he said in January that he would contact the schools. Two of the reasons were that the hours available were so small that retired teachers would fit that and that they had the specialist qualifications such as in the area of special needs. I missed the third one and the Minister might repeat it in his supplementary reply.

Does the Minister have a breakdown of the 153 retired teachers who were rehired on contract? How many of them were special needs teachers?

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