Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 553: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers employed by her Department; the number of these teachers who are employed on a permanent basis; the number employed on a temporary basis who work in a designated special class or unit; the way in which her Department determines the number of permanent teaching positions to make available in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33141/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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According to my Department's records, there are 27,823 teachers employed in primary schools currently. There are 25,448 primary teachers employed on a permanent basis and 110 temporary teachers employed at primary level in a designated special class or unit. The staffing of a primary school for a particular school year is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on the 30th September of the previous school year and by reference to a staffing schedule. This staffing schedule for the 2006/07 school year is outlined in Primary Circular 0023/2006 which was issued to all primary schools. Under the staffing arrangements for primary schools there is provision for the allocation of an additional post where a school experiences rapid growth in its enrolment. In such cases, an additional post, referred to as a developing school post, may be sanctioned provisionally where the projected enrolment at 30th September of the school year in question equals or exceeds a specified figure. If the specified figure is not achieved on 30th September, sanction for the post is withdrawn.

The criteria for developing school status for the coming school year have been reviewed and the minimum numerical increase of 30 pupils for larger schools has been removed. There is now just one minimum numerical increase in pupils required, i.e., 25. To ensure openness and transparency in the system an independent Appeal Board is now in place to decide on any staffing appeals. The criteria under which an appeal can be made are set out in Department Primary Circular 0024/2006. The teacher allocation to individual second level schools for a particular school year is determined by the enrolment of all recognised pupils at the end of September of the preceding school year.

Teachers in second level schools are employed by the authorities of the schools concerned. The appointment of teachers and the subject areas involved is a matter in the first instance for the authorities of the school concerned. When deciding on the number of teaching posts, if any, which may be filled in a permanent capacity in a particular school year, the school authorities must take account of the approved teacher allocation for the school for that year, the number of permanent teachers currently employed, including those on approved leave, the overall limits as to the level of permanency laid down by my Department from time to time and the need for flexibility to cater for the needs of all of the pupils.

My Department has allocated approximately 25,405 wholetime equivalent teaching posts in respect of second level schools for the 2006/07 school year. The vast majority of teaching posts at second level are filled on a permanent whole-time basis. Vacancies in schools arising from career breaks, approved leave of absence or secondments and concessionary posts, which are allocated in excess of a school's normal quota of posts, are normally filled in a temporary or part-time capacity. In addition, in order to ensure that schools have the flexibility to meet the curricular needs of their students, particularly in minority subject areas, it is necessary for them to appoint temporary or part-time teachers.

At second level my Department's payroll relates to teachers in voluntary secondary, community and comprehensive schools only. Information regarding vocational teachers is maintained by the Vocational Education Committees by whom they are employed and paid. Therefore, the overall number of permanent posts currently in the second level system is not available within my Department.