Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of assistant principals and special duty teachers who have retired from primary teaching since the embargo on filling middle management posts was introduced in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23927/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Minister said that schools will be advised of this decision by Government. I raised this matter with her predecessor on 4 March and was told that a decision was imminent. When the Minister spoke to the teacher union conferences nine weeks ago she said limited alleviation will occur. Teachers in schools are either dealing with examinations or are on their summer holidays. Is the Minister seriously telling this House that she has no news for the schools on foot of this parliamentary question, when, effectively, such school authorities cannot make these appointments - even if it were possible for them to do so - on the basis that teachers have either broken for the summer or are on their summer holidays. I ask the Minister to directly answer this question: when will schools be informed of the limited alleviation to which she referred nine weeks ago? When will that happen?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I advise the Deputy that I have been engaged in discussions, as have senior officials on my behalf, at senior level with the Department of Finance in examining a methodology by which we can provide such limited alleviation. My judgment is that we will be able to bring the matter to finality very soon. I have returned to the Department on a number of issues regarding its consideration of sanction. I want to obtain from the Department what is reasonable and fair. I had thought that the matter would have been concluded last week when I got a response from the Department, but I have reverted to it on a number of issues that I want to have addressed. Hopefully we will have the matter resolved in the next number of days.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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While the Department of Finance is running rings around the Minister and her Department, school authorities cannot make these appointments because they do not know the number of posts, if any, they will be allocated next year. I are talking about the positions of year heads, programme co-ordinators and examination secretaries, key middle management posts within our education system, which cannot be filled now because the Minister has allowed the Department of Finance to run rings around her.

Is it the case that her Department has given specific financial help to schools where a post holder has retired and the task undertaken by that person cannot now be done within the school? In how many instances has that occurred? I am aware of one where, as I understand it, the Department gave financial help either to the school or to employ a separate person to ensure that examinations could take place. Can she advise the House how many specific instances have occurred where the Department has given such financial help to schools?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy is broadening the scope of the question.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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If the Minister continues to pursue this policy, schools will not open in September.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is probably not aware that protracted discussions can take place with the Department of Finance in the context of any of these issues. We are engaged in dialogue and discussions on this matter. Therefore, I do not accept the Deputy's perspective that the Department of Finance is running rings around my Department. That is not the position.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Minister spoke about this matter nine weeks ago.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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We are engaged in discussions, which I accept have been protracted, but my view is that these discussions will be completed soon. What I want to obtain is a method by which we can address the concerns of a number of schools at primary and, particularly, at post-primary level. I am doing my utmost to have that matter resolved so that the schools can deal with the issue of concern in this interim period. However, it will be a limited alleviation and not a return to what was the position heretofore.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Did the Minister give financial help to schools? How many schools were assisted?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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That is a broadening of the question.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am not aware of any of those things happening.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Minister is not aware of any such instances.