Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2024
736. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the reason teachers have to reinterview for their position in a school when they have already been successful in their first interview, and deemed capable and qualified enough to take up the position. [32302/24]
View answerThe 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).
In accordance with Department Circular 31/ 2011, and Circular 44/2019 which are available on the Department’s website under www.education.ie, schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers and ensure that unemployed teachers should be offered employment in preference to those who have retired. Circular 31/2011 and Circular 44/2019 details a cascade of measures for the recruitment of teachers, prioritising registered teachers over retired registered teachers and unregistered people. These measures were taken in an effort to increase employment opportunities for unemployed teachers.
As per 0044/2019 primary circular chapter 2 (6.1) and 0024/2015 post primary states Termination Of First Fixed-Term Contracts: All first fixed-term contracts must be terminated at the end of the school year 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. Therefore, the employer must terminate the contract and cannot provide a new fixed term contract to any teacher unless it advertises and interviews first.
