Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 3: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of assistant principals and special duty teachers who have retired from primary and post-primary teaching since the embargo on filling middle management posts was introduced in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10995/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Retirements at primary level since the introduction of the moratorium in March 2009 are 309 principals, 258 deputy principals, 141 assistant principals and 214 teachers with special duties posts of responsibility. The equivalent figures for the post-primary sector were approximately 100 principals, 75 deputy principals, 660 assistant principals and 150 teachers with special duties posts of responsibility. This is based on Department-held data with a pro rata adjustment to include VEC schools. Vacancies at assistant principal and special duties level arise due to retirements in these specific grades and typically also from the knock-on effects of filling principal and deputy principal posts.

On the introduction of the moratorium, 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 therefore is limited to the assistant principal and special duties allowances payable to teachers on promotion. Unlike other areas of the public service, retirement vacancies are being filled and the schools' losses pertain to the capacity to make promotions by awarding the extra pay allowance to other teachers. The position whereby slightly more than 50% of all teachers have promotion allowances is simply not sustainable.

I recognise that the impact of the moratorium is uneven across schools and as I already have acknowledged, the impact is not simply due to the level of retirements but also is a consequence of promotions that are made to principal and deputy principal posts. Further retirements and promotions later this year will have a further impact on middle management posts. As I indicated earlier this week, I am prepared to consider this issue to ascertain what limited interim alleviation can be given to deal with those cases, while the overall number of promotion positions continues to reduce.

My Department, like others, is in discussions with the Department of Finance in respect of a public sector numbers control framework. It is only in the context of such a framework for the education sector and when an overall long-term reduction in the number of promotion allowances is brought about that the position of some individual schools can be addressed for September next.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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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.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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There are two issues. I thank the Deputy for his support as regards the teacher unions and their directives. Teachers and their unions have always stated that they put children first. Obviously, however, these matters affect children within schools.

I have indicated to the House that there is an unevenness in the number of retirements and promotions. I have also indicated that some schools have been badly hit. Difficulties have arisen and are arising. The Deputy will be pleased to hear that I am in discussions with the Minister for Finance on alleviating some of the serious difficulties facing schools. I hope to conclude my consultation with the Minister in the near future and that we will be in a position to improve on some of the difficulties and unevenness in the system.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Am I right in assuming that the announcement will be made well in advance of September, when the next phase of these retirements kicks in? Some schools might not open next September because of the loss of middle management posts within them. Will the Minister clarify for the Dáil the savings to date that have resulted from the embargo? My understanding is that they amount to €11 million or €12 million. If it is this paltry sum of money in a Department that spends more than €8.5 billion annually, we can make a difference.

Will the Minister conclude his negotiations with the Department of Finance in the next few weeks in order that teacher unions might be in a position to revoke their directive of recent weeks? If fully implemented, that directive would cause havoc in our school system next year.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The cost of posts of responsibility is significant, €236 million per annum.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Of 810 posts.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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That in excess of 50% of teachers are post holders in schools is not sustainable and will not be maintained by the Government. We are well down the road in my consultation with the Minister for Finance. We have been consulting for some time and I hope to be in a position to finalise our discussions in the not-too-distant future. I do not want to put an exact date on it and then miss it, but the consultation is well under way.