Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

417. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she intends to introduce job-sharing arrangements for primary school principals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32135/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Job Sharing Scheme for teachers is contained in Chapter 8 of my Department’s Circular Letter 0054/2019 titled ‘Leave Schemes for Registered Teachers Employed in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools’. The purpose of the scheme is assist teachers in combining work and personal responsibilities/choices. Under the terms of the Circular, Job Sharing is not available to the following:

i. Primary: Principal, Home School Liaison Co-ordinator, teacher on secondment

ii. Post Primary: Principal, Deputy Principal, Home School Liaison Co-ordinator, teacher on secondment

As is the case with all non-statutory leave, each scheme is tailored to the needs of each individual sector following detailed consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

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, NDP Delivery and Reform, and the Department of Education and Youth. 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. The current eligibility criteria of the Job Sharing Scheme, as detailed in the Department's Circular Letter 0054/2019, exists by virtue of a collective agreement at TCC.

It is not currently planned to make any amendments to the terms of the Job Sharing Scheme for teachers as set out in Circular 0054/2019.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

418. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she intends to introduce job-sharing arrangements for secondary school principals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32136/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Job Sharing Scheme for teachers is contained in Chapter 8 of my Department’s Circular Letter 0054/2019 titled ‘Leave Schemes for Registered Teachers Employed in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools’. The purpose of the scheme is assist teachers in combining work and personal responsibilities/choices. Under the terms of the Circular, Job Sharing is not available to the following:

i. Primary: Principal, Home School Liaison Co-ordinator, teacher on secondment

ii. Post Primary: Principal, Deputy Principal, Home School Liaison Co-ordinator, teacher on secondment

As is the case with all non-statutory leave, each scheme is tailored to the needs of each individual sector following detailed consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

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, NDP Delivery and Reform, and the Department of Education and Youth. 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. The current eligibility criteria of the Job Sharing Scheme, as detailed in the Department's Circular Letter 0054/2019, exists by virtue of a collective agreement at TCC.

It is not currently planned to make any amendments to the terms of the Job Sharing Scheme for teachers as set out in Circular 0054/2019.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

419. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she plans to review the use of the supplementary panel used in primary school teacher recruitment in Catholic schools; if open recruitment would not be a fairer and more efficient way to recruit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32137/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent/CID holding teachers, to other schools that have vacancies.

At primary level, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill their vacancies from the Main Redeployment Panel. Once all teachers on the Main Panel have been redeployed, permanent vacancies are offered to teachers on the Supplementary Redeployment Panel, comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers. At that point, fixed-term vacancies may be advertised through open competition.

Once a redeployment panel has been exhausted in an area, schools with permanent vacancies in that area may proceed to open competition to fill these vacancies. It is open to any teacher to apply for these vacancies as they arise.

The redeployment arrangements are reviewed each year, in consultation with the Education Partners, including the Teacher Union). Arrangements for next year’s redeployment will be reviewed towards the end of the year.