Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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449. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the number of primary school assistant principal posts will be restored to pre-2009 levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28169/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The moratorium on the filling of posts of responsibility was lifted in 2017 and allowed for the commencement of restoration of middle management posts as part of an agreed distributed leadership model. This recognises the key role school leadership has in promoting a school environment which is welcoming, inclusive and accountable.

Since 2017, 1700 additional leadership posts have been invested in our primary schools which has led to 1 in 3 teachers now holding promoted positions. The Department has committed to revising the allocation of Posts of Responsibility to take into account retirements during the school year. This ensures that the current level of Posts of Responsibility are maintained in the school system.

Any further improvement must be considered in the context of budgetary matters, having regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands in the education sector.