Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

80. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if it is the case that from 2015 any teachers that have been on secondment from classroom work and employed in other educational duties under his Department for five years or more must either retire or return to the classroom; if so, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28652/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A limit of five years is imposed on all new secondments to my Departments programmes. This approach allows for turnover of personnel which is in line with good practice in terms of refreshing skills and expertise and also allows for benefits to accrue to the releasing school on the person's return.

My Department, through the teacher support services, engages teachers on a full time basis annually for the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) through secondment from their schools. These arrangements provide flexibility and ensure that the needs and priorities of the service are met. The support services must engage in succession planning as a key strategy in ensuring continued support for teachers and school leaders in implementing national education policy priorities and CPD.

Teachers continue to be employed by their Boards of Management while on secondment to work with the support services. Secondments are renewed, where necessary, on an annual basis and are subject to a number of provisions including the five-year limit referenced above, the priority needs of the service and the Board of Management's continuing approval.