Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the current situation of retired teachers who remain working on a temporary and substitute basis in all State-funded schools while teaching graduates remain on the live register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28416/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I issued a Circular in May of this year which requires schools to prioritise teachers over unregistered persons, appropriately qualified teachers over teachers qualified for different sectors, and unemployed teachers over teachers in receipt of a public sector pension. In relation to short-term absences, where all efforts to secure an appropriately qualified and registered teacher who is not retired fail, the school may employ a retired appropriately qualified registered teacher. If none are available, it may move on to employ a teacher registered under any regulation of the Teaching Council, giving preference wherever possible to one who is not retired.

Any decision to employ a retired teacher is a local decision made by the school authorities. School principals must keep a record as to why a retired teacher has had to be employed and must also report to the school's Board of Management on the instances where this arises. In addition to the above, teachers who are retired and who return to teaching are now remunerated at the first point of the revised salary scales applicable to new entrants. This represents a significant financial disincentive for teachers who retired at the top of their salary scale to return to teaching.