Written answers

Wednesday, 8 June 2011

Department of Education and Skills

School Staffing

9:00 pm

Photo of Martin FerrisMartin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give assurances that qualified teachers will not be expected to work in a school on a voluntary basis or for less remuneration than their counterparts. [14468/11]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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A 10% reduction in salary applies to all teachers who commence employment for the first time on or after 1 January 2011. This is in accordance with the Budget 2011 decision. Teachers appointed for the first time also now commence employment at the first point of the salary scale. Incremental credit for the length of time in college training as a teacher is no longer reckonable. Regardless of starting pay the remuneration of teachers in the same school will often differ due to a number of factors such as the qualifications held by individuals, the work undertaken by the teacher and the length of service as a teacher. My Department is also aware that a number of teachers and, in particular, newly qualified teachers are unable to source experience in schools which would allow them to complete teaching practice requirements and so gain full registration with the Teaching Council or indeed to gain classroom and school based experience which may prove advantageous to their future employment prospects.

The FÁS Work Placement Programme (WPP), which allows a business or organisation to take on a person for a work experience placement, was therefore extended in late 2010 so as not to exclude unemployed teachers or non-teaching staff from obtaining placements in publicly funded schools. Participation in the programme is entirely voluntary and involves a placement for a defined period of time. Participants may be entitled to maintain their social welfare entitlements subject to the rules of the Department of Social Protection.

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