Bishops under pressure over teachers redeployed from non-Catholic schools

Bishops are to come under pressure to agree to open up vacancies to teachers being redeployed from primary schools not under Catholic control.

Individual bishops control their own redeployment panels, which are limited to teachers from Catholic schools within the diocese, or others at the bishop's discretion.

The transfer of primary teachers has become a major issue this year due to budgetary job cuts.

About 700 permanent primary teachers are losing their jobs and are being redeployed to vacancies elsewhere, in addition to the usual 400 annual redeployments.

Because of the extra numbers, the Department of Education is now seeking more flexibility in redeployment but has met an unenthusiastic response from Catholic school authorities.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn is about to re-open discussions on the matter.

He said the existing arrangements were not certain to bring about the redeployment of all surplus teachers, which is required by the EU/IMF bailout before any other permanent posts are filled.

- Katherine Donnelly

Irish Independent