Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the secondment of education centre directors following recent representations; the number of those affected by the proposed changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1714/16]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department, through the Education Centres and Support Services engages teachers on a full time basis annually for the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) through secondment from their schools. These secondments are subject to annual review. The arrangements provide flexibility and ensure that the in-service needs of teachers and other support priorities of the school system can be met within the resources available.

Having teachers with relevant and recent teaching experience and expertise is a key requirement for the role. It is a condition therefore that the maximum length of time that a teacher may be on secondment is five years, following which they return to their teaching roles in their schools. In this way, their expertise and knowledge is not lost to the system. Each Education Centre has a management committee and staff which ensures continuity at a local level. The teacher secondment arrangements have been disseminated extensively so the necessary planning can take place at all levels including education centres, support services, school boards of management and individual teacher. Accordingly, there are no plans to change this policy on teacher secondments.

My Department has recognised that it may be necessary from time to time to allow some flexibility to the five year policy whereby a small number of Directors would remain on secondment for a limited additional period. This provides continuity in management, planning and leadership and retention of expertise. Following consultations between officials in my Department and the Directors some alleviation was agreed to allow a number of Directors to serve beyond the five years for a limited period.

As a result of this alleviation the secondment tenure of a number of Directors will be ceasing over a phased basis for the next 3 years up to the end of the school year 2017/18.All the Directors concerned and their relevant Management Committees have been informed of the revised arrangements.

My Department will provide support to any Management Committee in the recruitment process for a Director where required and appropriate continuous professional development support can be provided to facilitate Directors return to school should that be requested.