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

This obviously is still a problem. I take the point that in some circumstances, there may be a real difficulty with regard to availability in exceptional circumstances. However, anecdotally and from experience, serious issues still persist in schools across the country whereby teachers who are retired are getting temporary contracts and contracts. Whatever about a day's subbing when someone rings in sick and it proves impossible to find someone else, an actual contract is a different kettle of fish. Given the number of young people who have been graduating at primary and secondary levels in recent years, I do not accept there is a shortage of teachers in any subject choice, particularly at second level. I believe the Minister not having taken a sufficiently hard approach on this issue has led to some retired teachers still remaining in those roles. I suggest that a much more formal structure be set up whereby any school that takes on a teacher who already has retired for an exceptional reason must immediately notify the Department and explain the reason. I believe that with immediate accountability on such decisions, it will deter schools from actually doing it. It also will mean that a retired teacher who gets a call at 8 a.m. because someone has called in sick will not feel reluctant to come in. It will avoid the scenario whereby such teachers will not come in, even in those rare situations when the school is unable to find anyone else, because they would be joining a group of people whom much public opinion is against. This will not be an issue if there are exceptional circumstances and if the Minister has in place a proper system whereby it is accounted for. However, I believe this issue persists and of the aforementioned 153 posts, many roles could have been taken up by newly qualified teachers instead.

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