Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
365. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated full-year cost of reinstating the numbers of assistant principals to the highest previous level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35652/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recognise the key role school leadership in improving educational outcomes by creating a positive school climate and environment as well as motivating and empowering educators and learners within their school communities.
The Sectoral Bargaining process under Building Momentum for the primary sector has been used to increase posts of responsibility (POR) in primary and special schools by 1,450 posts.
The last two budgets have provided for an additional 1000 posts of responsibility at both primary level and post-primary level. 500 AP II posts were allocated to primary schools in the 2024/25 school year. For the 2025/26 school year, the equivalent of 500 AP II posts is being distributed as 110 AP I and 251 AP II for the purposes of fully restoring all PORs in primary schools.
At post-primary level, the difference in the number of assistant principals today compared to the highest previous level is approximately 1,100 AP Is and 1,900AP IIs. However, in the intervening period to enhance middle management structures in schools, enrolment thresholds for Deputy Principals were altered to allow for additional Deputy Principals in our second level schools at an annual cost of €45m per annum. Today there are currently 700 more Deputy Principal positions in our post-primary schools when comparted with the 2008/2009 school year.
A revised Post of Responsibility Schedule issued to schools recently to reflect the increase in posts of responsibility available to schools for the coming school year.
The current annual rates for Assistant Principal I and Assistant Principal II posts are €10,377 and €4,591 respectively.
