Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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358. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of "posts of responsibility" in primary schools and post-primary schools respectively in 2008 compared to the number in 2024; and the estimated additional cost of restoring the number of such posts to their pre-recession levels. [42887/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Pupil demographics is a key driver for teacher demand and teacher numbers have been increasing year on year with an increase of almost 9,500 teachers in primary and post-primary in the past five years. The number of Post of Responsibility positions in both sectors are calculated in accordance with the number of teaching posts allocated to each school and therefore with the increase in the number of teaching posts in schools, this automatically leads to an increase in the number of AP I and AP II positions within schools.

Budget 2024 provided for an additional 500 post of responsibility (Assistant Principal II) in both the primary and post-primary school system for the 2024/25 school year. These posts are effective from 01 September 2024. Budget 2025 has also provided for an additional 500 post of responsibility (Assistant Principal II) in both the primary and post-primary school system with effect for the 2025/26 school year.

At primary level there are currently 1,499 API posts and 8,298 APII posts allocated. This compares with 1,605 API's and 8,131 APII's in 2008.

In total, close to 40% of the primary teaching population hold a management position (Principal, Deputy Principal, API, APII) within our primary schools.

Additional measures were introduced in the intervening period in relation to School Management structures including:

* all teachers in two-teacher schools gaining Deputy Principal status as opposed to holding APII positions (reflected in number of APII above)

* Administrative Principal (178 – 169) and Deputy Administrative Principal (655 – 573) thresholds reduced.

* almost 30,000 additional principal release days at a cost of €9m per annum to allow for all teaching principals have one release day per week.

In relation to the post-primary numbers, data is provided in respect of the 476 voluntary and community and comprehensive schools (i.e. the Department's payroll). In these schools, there are currently 3,057 AP I's and 3,579 APII positions compared to 3,431 AP I and 5,276 AP II in 2008. It is expected that these numbers will increase in the next few weeks as the individual Post of Responsibility Schedules for each post-primary school issues in the next week.

In the intervening period to enhance middle management structures in schools, enrolment thresholds for Deputy Principals were altered to allow for over additional Deputy Principals in our second level schools. There are currently 688 posts allocated in respect of Deputy Principal positions in these schools compared to 232 posts in the 2007/2008 school year. Similar to the Primary sector, close to 40% of the teaching population hold a management position (Principal, Deputy Principal, API, APII) within our post-primary schools.

The current annual rates for Assistant Principal I and Assistant Principal II posts are €10,482 and €4,638 respectively.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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359. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers allocated to primary schools in 2024; and the number of teachers that would need to be allocated to primary schools in 2029, assuming the current pupil teacher ratio was to be maintained in 2029. [42888/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Currently there are over 43,000 teaching posts allocated across the primary school system. This represents an increase of over 5,250 teachers when compared with the 2019/20 school year.

The future allocation of teaching posts will need to take several factors into account, including demographic changes. My Department’s latest reports "Statistical Bulletin 2023/24", "Education Indicators for Ireland 2023" and "Regional Projections of full-time enrolments Primary and Second Level 2021-2036" are available on the statistics section of the Department's website.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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360. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that full incremental credit is not awarded to post-primary teachers for their experience working abroad in jurisdictions such as Australia and Dubai; the estimated additional cost of extending full incremental credit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42889/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department of Education’s Circulars 10/2001 for primary teachers, and 29/2007 and 29/2010 for post-primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC).

These circulars provide for the award of incremental credit in respect of overseas teaching service, both within and without the EU. Where a school satisfies the criteria set out in the circulars to have service at that school recognised for incremental credit, an award of incremental credit can be made.

Criteria such as whether the school is subject to state funding, which can be of particular relevance when examining claims relating to private teaching schools, and the length of time the school has been in existence, must be satisfied in order for service at that school to be recognised for incremental credit.

Where schools do not satisfy the required criteria, then service at that school cannot be considered towards incremental credit. Teachers must be on the Department of Education’s teacher payroll or teaching in an Education and Training Board school before an application can be processed.

The criteria for the award of incremental credit for teachers are subject to review by way of an incremental credit committee, which is a sub-committee of the Teachers Conciliation Council, and which meets on an ongoing basis.

Through the Teachers Conciliation Council, the teacher unions have lodged a claim concerning the recognition of private post primary teaching service outside the EU towards the award of incremental credit and this claim is currently being considered by the Department.

It is estimated that the cost of the award of incremental credit to teachers returning to Ireland with this service each year would be approximately €1.3m per annum.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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361. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason such a small proportion of recently appointed teachers were offered full-time contracts and even fewer permanent positions; the steps that could be taken to increase the numbers receiving full-time contracts and being offered permanent positions respectively including the financial implications of same. [42890/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The 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). The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.

Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.

With regard to fixed term contracts, the recruitment and appointment of teachers is a matter for each school/ETB as employers. Teachers may be recruited on a permanent basis once the school/ETB is within its authorised allocation of teaching posts and the criteria outlined in Department of Education Circulars for filling teaching posts are complied with.

Additionally, arising from the implementation of the recommendations of the Ward Report teachers may also qualify for contracts of indefinite duration. This enables fixed-term and part-time teachers to gain permanent, full-time jobs more easily and quickly than before. The qualifying terms of the Ward Report are set out in Circulars 0023/2015 (Primary) 0024/2015 (Post Primary).