Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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649. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teaching posts that remain unfilled around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19694/20]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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651. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of principal teacher positions that remain unfilled around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19696/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school management annually and are available on the Department website.

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). The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management.

All teachers, including principals, are employed by school management and the onus is on the managerial authorities to fill all vacancies as permitted by the staffing arrangements. Appointments to teaching and principal positions are submitted to the Department and the processing of these appointments is ongoing in the payroll sections of my Department.