Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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80. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a position for maternity leave cover can only be advertised on the first day of the leave. [45588/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts 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).

In accordance with Department Circular 31/ 2011and 44/2019, which are available on the Department’s website under www.education.ie, schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers and ensure that unemployed teachers should be offered employment in preference to those who have retired. These measures were taken in an effort to increase employment opportunities for unemployed teachers.

Circular 44/2019 sets out that there shall be no unreasonable delay between the notification of the vacancy, insertion of the advertisement and the filling of the post.