Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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285. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and secondary teachers retiring in 2014; and the way he will respond to this. [9242/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Teaching resources are allocated to schools on a school year basis. Unlike most other areas of the public service teaching vacancies are being filled in accordance with published Department criteria. 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 redeployment of surplus permanent teachers is the first mechanism to fill teaching posts in schools. This is key to the ability of my Department to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers. Thereafter, teaching posts are filled in the normal manner through the recruitment process at individual school level.

Teacher retirements occur each month throughout the year, however, the vast majority retire at the end of August. It is not possible at this early stage to predict the overall retirement levels in 2014. Apart from some 75 teachers who must retire at the end of August on reaching mandatory retirement age, any teacher who satisfies the age and service requirement may opt to retire at any time throughout the year. However the timing of their application is entirely a matter for the individual teacher. My Department requested that teachers who intend to retire in 2014, and who satisfy the age and service thresholds for pension, would make application for pension to the Pension Unit of the Department by 31 March 2014. This is to facilitate the timely payment of their pension benefits.