Written answers
Wednesday, 20 September 2023
Department of Education and Skills
School Staff
Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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275. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a higher-than-usual number of full-time posts in schools which remain vacant this September; if she considers it appropriate that some of the rules surrounding who can act as a substitute in such roles should now be relaxed; if not, if other changes could be made to offer other possibilities to local school leaders to find ways to deliver services while these posts remain vacant after repeated advertising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39698/23]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The recruitment and appointment of teachers is a matter for individual schools and ETBs. As the recruitment process is still ongoing and teacher appointments are currently being processed by Payroll Division, it is not possible at this stage to confirm the current number of vacant teaching posts.
A clearer position in relation to the number of persons appointed to posts for the 2023/2024 school year will be known by Quarter 4 2023, when schools conclude the majority of their appointments.
The Department is aware that a number of schools are experiencing some challenges recruiting teachers for their schools this year. The Department meets on a regular basis with school management bodies and teacher unions on this very important issue, and has recently met with school management bodies in this regard.
Fixed term replacement teacher posts must be filled according to the current rules for teacher recruitment. These include that the recruited teacher shall be offered a fixed term contract. There is also a requirement that a person employed in a teaching position is registered with the Teaching Council in order to be paid by the public purse. This is provided for under legislation and therefore it is not possible for the State to pay a person whose Teaching Council Registration is pending.
There is an exception to this rule which permits an unregistered person to be employed in a substitute capacity for up to 5 days in place of a teacher.
Teachers who carry out substitute work and who are not on supply panels, or who do not hold a permanent/fixed term contract in their own right, can be used to fill vacant posts where a school cannot secure a teacher on a longer-term basis. However, the school must continue to seek to recruit a teacher on a longer-term contract for that post.
The Department will continue to work intensively with all stakeholders to develop and implement solutions to address the teacher recruitment challenges being experienced by some schools.
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