Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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61. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the teacher exchange programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33140/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The provisions of the teacher exchange scheme are set out in my Department’s Circular Letter 0017/2015 the contents of which were agreed under the auspices of the Teacher Conciliation Council (TCC). The scheme is designed to facilitate primary teachers to temporarily exchange their posts for educational purposes. The minimum period for which an exchange may occur is one year and the maximum is five years.

The TCC is part of the scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration for Teachers and was set up to deal with claims and proposals relating to the Terms and Conditions of employment of teachers. The Council is composed of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission.

Following further discussion under the auspices of the TCC it was agreed that the teacher exchange scheme is to remain as a temporary measure as in the published circular. Teaching posts are to be filled by redeployment under the current arrangements or in accordance with the recruitment and appointment procedures as set out in the Governance Manual for Primary Schools 2015-2019.