Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he expects to be in a position to ensure adequate teacher cover in primary and post-primary schools throughout the country, some of which may have been affected to a greater extent by retirements or early retirements in the context of reduction in public service numbers; if he is satisfied that normal educational requirements can be complied with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10522/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I want to reassure the Deputy that no school will be without teachers due to the forthcoming retirement of teachers from the public sector.The Government has prioritised, as best as possible, the filling of front-line posts in the Education sector within the constraints of the Employment Control Framework. For example, schools are permitted to fill teaching vacancies that arise within their approved staffing allocations.

The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998.

In recognition of the additional pressure of students facing state examinations, and the concerns of teachers who wish to ensure continuity of support for these children, I have made provision, for this year only, to reduce disruption to students undertaking State examinations in June. This is in the form of alleviation measures allowing post-primary schools to re-employ teachers who retire between 1 December 2011 and 29 February 2012 and who, immediately before their retirement, have been teaching students preparing to sit the Junior or Leaving Certificate examinations in 2012.