Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The terms and conditions of the Career Break Scheme (www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/229051/2bcc29cd-6266-47cf-8906-e9ef4ae80ac4.pdf#page=102:~:text=relevant%20personnel%20records.-,102,CAREER%20BREAK%20SCHEME,-(Should%20be%20read) for teachers are contained in my Department’s Circular Letter 54/2019 (assets.gov.ie/31530/18a305c43c954e7d8bcada934e216522.pdf) (Chapter 7). A Career Break is a period of unpaid special leave for not less than 1 school year. It 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 during a teacher’s career.

Under the Career Break Scheme, a teacher may not be employed in an approved teaching or special needs assistant post funded by monies provided by the Oireachtas. However, in exceptional circumstances, an employer may appoint a qualified teacher on Career Break for substitute teaching purposes subject to a maximum of (a) 90 days in a school year at primary level and (b) 300 hours in a school year at post primary level.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform determines the terms and conditions of the Career Break Scheme for public servants, which includes teachers.

Under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998, the Minister for Education, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, is authorised to determine the terms and conditions of employment for teachers employed in approved teaching posts funded by monies provided by the Oireachtas. The Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC) forms part of the Scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration for Teachers, the purpose of which is to provide a forum for claims and proposals relating to the salary, and other terms & conditions of service for teachers. The Council is comprised of representatives from the Teacher Unions, the School Management Bodies, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of Education. The TCC is independently chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission. The terms and conditions of teachers employed in State funded teaching posts are formulated at TCC and are of general application to all teachers appointed to such posts. The Career Break Scheme exists by virtue of a collective agreement, concluded under the auspices of the TCC.