Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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178. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the legal status of diocesan panels in respect of teacher employment; if reviews of same have taken place; and his plans for reform. [33535/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for individual school authorities, in accordance with the 1998 Education Act.  

The core function of the redeployment arrangements at Primary level is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus full-time permanent/CID holding teachers to schools that have vacancies. The redeployment of all surplus permanent/CID holding teachers is key to the Department's ability to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers. 

Thereafter, vacancies are filled from the Supplementary panel which is created for eligible primary teachers in fixed-term/temporary positions (this includes substitute positions) and in part-time positions who meet the relevant eligibility criteria.

The redeployment arrangements are reviewed annually with the relevant education partners to determine what adjustment, if any, is required for subsequent school years.  Redeployment panels are drawn up on a diocesan basis for Catholic panels, diocesan/united diocesan basis for Church of Ireland panels and on a national basis for An Foras Pátrúnachta, Educate Together and for the Special National Panel.

The redeployment arrangements are published on my Departments website and operate in the same way for all Patron bodies.