Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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93. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the percentage was calculated in respect of his recent statement that 34.5% of teachers are in promoted positions in primary and post-primary schools, respectively by types of promoted posts; the number of AP1 and AP2 level posts which were removed from primary and post-primary schools, respectively during the moratorium on filling such posts by type of promoted post; the estimated cost at primary and post primary level, respectively of filling all lost promoted posts by restoring the pre-moratorium schedule for filling such posts by type of promoted post; and if posts lost will be restored by providing for same in his budget 2019 submissions. [19183/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Assistant Principal I and Assistant Principal II (formerly Special Duties posts), along with the Principal and Deputy Principal make up the middle management structure in schools.

Budget 2017 allowed for the commencement of restoration of middle management posts as part of an agreed distributed leadership model and meant lifting the rigidity of the longstanding moratorium on these posts at primary and post-primary levels. This recognises the key role school leadership has in promoting a school environment which is welcoming, inclusive and accountable.

€2.75m was allocated in Budget 2017 to restore middle management positions i.e. the equivalent of approximately 1,300 middle management posts at both Primary and Post-Primary. (2,600 in total)

Circular 63/2017 was issued by the Department in September 2017 which deals and sets out a leadership and management framework for posts in recognised primary schools.

Circular 3/2018 is the corresponding circular for the Post-Primary Sector and it issued in early January. Both circulars are available on my Department's website.

The selection and recruitment process is well under way in most schools and the majority of these new middle management posts will be filled in the current school year.

Figures for the breakdown of teachers in promoted positions and for the number of APIs and APIIs which were removed from primary and post primary schools during the moratorium are in the attached tables.

The estimated cost of restoring the number of middle-management posts in our schools to pre-moratorium levels would be approximately €50m and any further restoration would have to be considered in the context of future Budgets. However, there are needs across the system which have to be balanced in the decisions made in each budget.

Number of APIs and APIIs which were removed from primary and post primary schools during the moratorium

*2017/18 figures include the following posts of responsibility which were restored.

APIs - 268 at primary level and 378 at post primary level

APIIs – 1,032 at primary level and 922 at post primary level

Breakdown of teachers in promoted positions for the 2017/18 school year