Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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612. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will issue a statement to all boards of management of primary and secondary schools regarding the practice of employing retired teachers on a short-term basis, when there is a significant problem with the number of unemployed teachers who are unable to secure permanent or long-term contract positions; if she will clarify the situation in connection with the legal role of her Department in these contracts of employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15824/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Section 24 of the Education Act 1998, as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012, provides that the appointment, suspension and dismissal of teachers are the responsibility of Boards of Management of recognised schools.

The policy of my Department is to ensure, as far as possible, that the Managerial Authorities of Primary and Post Primary schools give priority to unemployed registered teachers who are fully qualified when filling vacant teaching posts. While it is schools that employ teachers my Department has issued a number of Circulars addressing this issue in recent years.

Under these Circulars 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 had to engage a registered teacher who is retired. Circular 31/2011 details a cascade of measures for the recruitment of teachers, prioritizing registered teachers over retired registered teachers and unregistered people.

A retired teacher who returns to teaching on or after 1 February 2012 will commence at the first point of the incremental salary scale (i.e. the lowest point or starting salary for teachers). Incremental credit for service prior to 1 February 2012, qualification allowances and certain job role allowances are also not payable. This measure represents a significant financial disincentive for teachers who retired at the top of their salary scale, often with a post of responsibility allowance, to return to teaching.