Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The issue of casualisation of the teaching profession at both primary and second level has become a real problem and I ask the Minister to comment on a particular matter about which I also seek some leniency from him. I refer to the position at primary level with regard to the temporary panel of teachers. Teachers who have completed three years of teaching are eligible to be placed on a temporary panel but this year, the closing date for this panel was brought back from the end of February to the end of December. As a result, a significant number of applications arrived late to the Department. This issue affects teachers who have completed three years but who now face the prospect of missing out on that panel, in many cases through no fault of their own, on foot of the date being brought forward and their not having been made aware of the relevant circular. I already have contacted the Department of Education and Skills on this issue but have not received a positive response. However, I ask the Minister whether there may be a way, in respect of those teachers who made late applications, for the Department to reassess the deadline for the temporary panel, thereby giving them some certainty regarding teaching posts from next September.

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