Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 June 2026
86. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth to consider amending the eligibility criteria for primary school teachers to access the supplementary panel, to allow teachers with maternity contracts to qualify, as well as teachers who have over three years teaching experience but do not hold a fixed term/ qualifying contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46130/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra87. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth to consider expanding types of contracts listed as ‘qualifying contract’ that primary school teachers must hold in order to qualify for the supplementary panel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46131/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together.
At primary level, schools are required, under the panel arrangements, to fill their vacancies from the Main Redeployment Panel. Once all teachers on the Main Panel have been redeployed, permanent vacancies are offered to teachers on the Supplementary Redeployment Panel, comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers.
The eligibility criteria for the Supplementary Panel are set out in Circular 74/2025. In order to meet the scale point criteria, teachers must have earned three increments through non-permanent service, or have earned two increments and have a contract from mid-December to the end of the current school year.
Fixed-term, temporary, substitute and part-time service are all reckonable for the supplementary panel, both in earning the increments required and where a teacher who has earned two increments needs a contract in order to qualify for the panel.
