School Staff

Wednesday, 6 May 2026

Questions (397)

Paul Lawless

Question:

397. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the current structure of principal release-day clusters to ensure that the calculation of base posts reflects the full scope of a principal’s management responsibilities, including the co-ordination and oversight of special needs assistants or SNAs, bus escorts and teaching staff; if she will consider including these roles in the staffing thresholds used to determine release-day allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32451/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education and Youth

Prior to 2022, principal release days were allocated on the basis of the number of mainstream teachers in the school.

Following a budget decision in 2022, all schools with a teaching principal have a minimum of 37 Principal Release Days. i.e. one administrative day per week. Schools with one special class have 4 additional release days, a total of 41 in the school year and schools with two special classes have administrative principal status.

Schools may employ a substitute teacher for the day to facilitate the principal’s release day. Alternatively, schools may cluster their release days with other schools in order to create a full-time fixed-term post. Schools may combine their Special Education Teaching (SET) hours with principal release days in order to create a full-time post. The inclusion of principal release days in cluster posts allows for consistency in the teaching cover provided to schools.

Any further changes would have to be considered in the context of the overall budgetary process.