John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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469. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if all appointments regarding maternity leaves, fixed-term contracts of teachers have complied with DES regulations regarding advertising regulations, appointment and interview procedures and that SNA appointments have compiled with same in terms of association with amalgamated schools since June 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65041/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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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 procedures for filling teacher posts are set out in Department Circulars 0044/2019 for primary and 0031/2011 and 0020/2012 for post primary. These circulars require schools to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers.

Department recruitment circulars remind schools of the requirement to adhere to the regulations and procedures set out in the relevant circulars.

The sequence for employing teachers on a short-term basis (less than 24 calendar weeks) is set out in Section 4 of Chapter 2 of Circular 0044/2019 and in Section 4 of Circular 0031/2011. The procedures for filling long-term posts (24 calendar weeks or more) are set out in Section 5 of Chapter 2 of Circular 0044/2019 and Circular 0020/2012.

Chapter 2 of Circular 0044/2019 also advises in relation to the requirement to terminate all first fixed-term contracts and if the employment is continuing for the following year, it must be automatically re-advertised by the employer and a new recruitment process undertaken for the filling of the post for the second year. Once a teacher has been interviewed for two fixed term contracts, additional interviews are not required for subsequent fixed term contracts.

In relation to Special Needs Assistants the recruitment and appointment is a matter for the individual school authority. Department Circulars 0051/2019 and 0043/2025 sets out the current requirements for appointment as a Special Needs Assistant.