Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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128. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will sanction the redeployment of a person (details supplied) to a post in another school given that their career break between 2015 and 2021 was not extended by the school in question which meant that they had to offer their resignation; if special circumstances can be taken into account when considering such a request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51390/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The core function of the redeployment arrangements for teachers is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent/CID (Contract of Indefinite Duration) holding teachers to other schools that have vacancies. The redeployment of all surplus permanent/CID holding teachers is key to my Department's ability to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers.  Thereafter, 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 criteria used for the allocation of teachers to post-primary schools for the 2021/22 school year, including the redeployment arrangements, are available on my Department's website.

The Career Break Scheme for teachers is contained my Department’s Circular Letter 0054/2019.  In relation to the duration of Career Break, paragraph 3.1 and 3.2 states:

‘3.1 A Career Break is for a period of not less than 1 school year and may be extended on an annual basis provided the total period of the Career Break does not exceed 5 years at any one time, subject to an overall maximum of 10 years absence in the course of the teacher’s career.

3.2 A subsequent Career Break may not be taken until the teacher has served for a period equal to the duration of the previous Career Break. In the case of a teacher wishing to avail of a Career Break to undertake voluntary service abroad/missionary/diplomatic/military/Oireachtas or study leave this requirement will be waived.’