Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 79: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if, in the context of the embargo on filling middle management posts, her Department has provided financial help to schools, where a special duty teacher retired and the school cannot then carry out the task of that teacher, an example might be an exams secretary in order that some other person was employed for the purpose of carrying out that task and funding provided by her Department. [24900/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under existing arrangements schools are allowed an allocation of 15 exam aide days for the administration of the certificate examinations. Examination aides are paid a standard daily rate and the arrangements for using this resource are made at school level, i.e., they may recruit someone or pay an allowance to an existing staff member for the work. These arrangements for the administration of the certificate examinations were not affected by the moratorium on the filling of posts of responsibility.

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.

I am conscious that the impact of the moratorium on middle management posts has applied unevenly in schools depending on the level of retirements. My Department has not issued any financial assistance to schools impacted by the moratorium. However, discussions are ongoing with the Department of Finance in relation to some limited alleviation for schools that are acutely 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.

It is a matter for school authorities to re-organise and prioritise, as best as possible, the appropriate duties for post of responsibility holders in the context of implementing the moratorium.