Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of retired first level and second level teachers teaching in first level and second level schools; if he will provide details of any circular or instruction he has issued on this matter since he was appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33169/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I issued Circular 0031/2011 in May of this year one purpose of which is to ensure, as far as practicable, that schools prioritise unemployed teachers over retired teachers. In particular, it prohibits schools from employing retired teachers to cover short-term absences unless all efforts to employ an appropriately qualified and registered teacher have failed. This circular also requires a school principal to keep a record as to why a retired teacher had to be employed and to report to the school's board of management on the instances where this arises.

In addition to the above, under Circular 0040/2011 which issued in June, 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, often with a post of responsibility allowance, to return to teaching. The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 provided for a reduction in the pay of public servants. Under the Public Service Pension Rights Order 2011, 29 February 2012 was set as the final date on which public servants could retire and have their pension entitlements calculated on the older, higher rates.

I am conscious of the potential impact of teachers retiring on State examination classes in post-primary schools. My Department has had discussions with second-level management bodies on this matter and intends to issue information to schools on re-employing such teachers for the remainder of the school year where this is considered necessary to reduce that impact. These measures will be confined to teachers teaching State examination classes in post-primary schools and do not apply to teachers with no exam classes or to primary school teachers. Vacancies left by retiring primary and post-primary teachers of non-exam classes may be filled in a temporary capacity for the remainder of the school year in accordance with the existing procedures.

My Department is collating the information regarding the numbers of retired teachers currently employed at primary and post-primary level. This information will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.