Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teacher exchanges currently in place in primary schools around the country; and his plans to provide more service rights or panel rights to those participating on the schemes. [8883/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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At primary level a teacher exchange scheme exists whereby a teacher may voluntarily exchange with a teacher in any other school. The minimum period for which an exchange may occur is one year and the maximum is five years. There are 25 exchanges involving 50 teachers currently in place in primary schools.Given that such exchanges are for a limited period of time, it is not appropriate for such teachers to have panel rights in respect of their new school. The exchange scheme was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers' Conciliation Council, a body established in accordance with the terms of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for Teachers. The Council is composed of representatives from Teachers, School Management, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, chaired by an official of the Labour Relations Commission. Any changes to the exchange scheme are therefore a matter for the Teachers' Conciliation Council.