Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine and reverse Circular 0019/2011 in view of his programme for Government commitment to devolve more responsibility to school principals and boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5509/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The process of allocating teaching resources to schools for 2011/2012 and the arrangements for filling vacant or new teaching posts takes place in the context of the Programme for National Recovery, the EU/IMF Programme of Support for Ireland and the Public Service Agreement 2010/2014.

It is necessary for my Department to exercise additional control and reporting measures this year to ensure that the numbers of teachers employed in schools is consistent with the Programme for National Recovery and the EU/IMF Programme of Support for Ireland.

It is necessary, therefore, for my Department to ensure this year that all permanent and fixed term positions are in the first instance made available to those permanent and CID holding teachers that are surplus and are to be redeployed.

This means that until further notice no school can be given authority to commence recruitment until my Department is in a position to assess the number of these teachers, if any, that remain to be redeployed.

It is the intention of the Department to restore recruitment from fixed-term teachers on the main panels, supplementary panels or public advertisement at the earliest possible opportunity, after all the surplus permanent teachers have been redeployed.

I am aware that many newly qualified teachers are concerned by the lack of job prospects within the education sector. Our education system is experiencing an increase in population numbers and this will require an increase in staffing levels just to meet demand.

My Department will have to consider whether further practical measures can be focused to address the real difficulties in this area for newly qualified teachers.