Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that only qualified registered teachers will be employed in approved teaching posts in schools from September 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36305/12]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has satisfied that no retired teacher will be employed in approved teaching posts in schools from September 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36306/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together.

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

Circular 31/2011, published in May 2011, details a cascade of measures for recruitment of teachers, prioritising unemployed registered teachers over retired registered teachers and registered teachers over unregistered persons.

Schools at primary and post-primary level are required to maintain a list of appropriately qualified registered teachers who notify the school that they are available for substitute teaching at short notice. Where a substitute teacher is needed at short notice and advertising for the position is not feasible, the school must contact a person on the list established by the school or use a national service such as SubSearch or TextaSub.

Where these procedures are adhered to, an unregistered person should only be engaged for a limited period of time in exceptional circumstances. The school remains under an obligation to source an appropriately qualified and registered teacher at all times.

Each principal must report to his or her board of management on a regular basis on the fact that a list of unemployed registered teachers is being maintained, and the circumstances in which he or she has had to engage a registered teacher in receipt of a pension under a public service pension scheme or an unregistered person.