Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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216. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of retired teachers who were rehired this year as examination supervisors; the number of retired teachers who were given work in the past year as substitute teachers; and his views on whether preference should be given to graduate teachers who are unemployed. [27152/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this, material has been provided by the SEC for the first two parts of this question.

Of the total of 4,861 superintendents appointed to the 2013 examinations, 1,016 were either substitute or unemployed teachers; some 1,049 superintendents were retired teachers and the remainder were serving permanent or temporary full-time and part-time teachers.

The SEC has a long-standing policy of prioritising applications from unemployed and substitute teachers. While statistical data in relation to superintendent appointments in relation to this year's examinations is not yet complete, I can confirm that for the 2013 examinations the SEC received 1,084 applications for superintending positions from either unemployed or substitute teachers. Of these, a total of 54 subsequently withdrew their application and 14 were not appointed as they either did not meet the criteria for appointment or their application was received late in which case they could only be included on the reserve panel. Hence 99.5% of applicants for superintending positions who were either unemployed or substitute teachers were appointed to superintend examinations by the SEC.

The policy of my Department is to ensure, as far as possible, that the Managerial Authorities of schools give priority to unemployed registered teachers who are fully qualified when filling vacant teaching posts. It is important to note that schools themselves employ teachers and not the Department of Education and Skills. Circular 31/2011 details a cascade of measures for the recruitment of teachers, prioritising registered teachers over retired registered teachers and unregistered people. School Principals must maintain a list of unemployed registered teachers who are available for substitute work at short notice and report to the Board of Management on any exceptional occasion where they have to engage a registered teacher who is retired.