Departmental Contracts

Monday, 7 September 2026

Questions (1236)

Louis O'Hara

Question:

1236. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to her replies to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 414 to 417, inclusive, of 2026, the mechanisms her Department uses to monitor whether schools and Education and Training Boards are complying in practice with the eligibility rules for Contracts of Indefinite Duration set out in Circulars 20/2026 and 21/2026, particularly in cases where a teacher has provided recurring teaching for more than one year but has not been awarded a CID; whether her Department conducts any compliance checks, audits or monitoring of such cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61555/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Youth

The rules setting out the eligibility for a CID as set out in Circulars 20/2026 and 21/2026 apply to all Oireachtas funded schools/ETB and schools must follow the rules for the award of a CID. Where a teacher is not awarded a CID and they believe that they were entitled to a CID, a teacher may submit an appeal in relation to the decision of the school not to award a CID to the teacher.

It is the responsibility of each school/ETB to ensure that they comply with all relevant employment legislation and to ensure that they comply with the provisions of all relevant recruitment and appointment circulars issued by the Department of Education and Youth.

Teachers are free to pursue statutory relief where they believe that their employer has not complied with their obligations.