Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 417 together.

My Department received a report of a Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) working group in March 2023 that proposed the creation of a national relocation scheme. The proposed scheme envisages that teachers could identify the locations that they would like to relocate to through a portal and then effectively “swap” with teachers in that location.

Officials of my Department subsequently met with TUI representatives to discuss this proposal, and a response issued to the TUI in November 2023. My Department received a further response from the TUI, and this is currently being considered.

It should be noted that an existing voluntary redeployment pilot operates that is distinct from the relocation scheme proposed by the TUI. The key purpose of the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme is to assist the Department to achieve its objective of redeploying all surplus permanent teachers.

My Department meets regularly with the teacher unions on many issues relating to teachers. The Department will continue to work intensively with all stakeholders to develop and implement creative solutions to address the needs of teachers and teacher supply challenges facing schools including this proposal for a teacher relocation scheme.