Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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378. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether a person (details supplied) can continue to remain in position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13907/17]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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381. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) will be permitted to remain teaching past their 65th birthday; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13958/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 and 381 together.

The individual to whom the Deputy refers is a primary school teacher in a recognised primary school and is a member of the Primary School Teachers Pension Scheme 2009.

In accordance with the terms of that superannuation scheme it is not possible to remain in pensionable service beyond the end of the school year in which she reaches age 65.  The person to whom the Deputy refers, would at that point, immediately qualify for pension and lump-sum based on the service she has accrued.

With reference to how the vacant post should be subsequently be filled, it is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). My Department has set out in a number of circulars the detail as to how the sequence of recruitment for qualified teachers should be applied by schools. It is possible, subject to giving preference to unemployed teachers, that schools can recruit retired teachers to cover short term absences. In those circumstances where a teacher who is retired and is in receipt of a pension returns to teaching she will start on the first point of incremental salary scale as appropriate and her pension will be abated.

In addition the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform published in August 2016 a report from the Interdepartmental Group on Fuller Working Lives. That Department, together with Public Service employers, is now reviewing the statutory and operational barriers to extended participation in the public service workforce.