Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 337: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the way in which she proposes to find the 660 new teachers to address the special needs crisis in primary schools; and the way in which this plan will be delivered in September 2005. [15941/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill vacancies in an individual school is a matter for the board of management of the school concerned. The mainstream staffing schedule for 2005-06 has now issued to all primary schools and redeployment panels will be available with effect from 27 May 2005. Boards of management with a permanent vacancy for the 2005-06 school year are obliged to offer the post in the first instance to teachers on the panel. When the panel is clear, a permanent vacancy may be advertised in the normal way. Details regarding the appointment of teachers are contained in the booklet, Appointment of Principals, Permanent and Temporary Teachers, published in April 2002, which is available on my Department's website, www.education.ie.

Boards of management must make every effort, including advertising in a national newspaper, to obtain the services of a qualified teacher for appointment to a temporary or permanent post.

The introduction of the new general allocation system of resource teaching support will involve the provision of an estimated additional 340 permanent posts in primary schools from September next. A further 320 posts are being provided on a temporary basis to facilitate the transition to the new system. My Department is now devising school clusters in respect of allocations to be made under the GA system. These will be notified to schools shortly along with the details of each school's individual allocation. This communication will clarify the position regarding the resource and learning support allocation available to all primary schools. My Department is also finalising a circular for schools which will contain detailed information on how the new system will operate. It is intended that this circular will issue before the end of the current school year.