Carol Nolan calls for moratorium on teacher losses during pandemic
Carol Nolan urged a moratorium on teacher losses during the pandemic, arguing extra substitute teachers will be needed and small schools face unfair staff reductions. She said schools marginally below staffing thresholds risk losing a valuable teacher and cited a school in Forban facing such a loss.
Call for moratorium
Carol Nolan told the chamber she has serious concerns and believes the pragmatic response is to bring in a moratorium on teacher losses. She said she raised the issue with the previous minister and asked that, given the pandemic, the Government show common sense and halt any teacher losses.
Impact on small schools and staffing thresholds
She warned that many schools are only marginally short of the numbers required to retain teachers and that losing one teacher could put them in a difficult position. Nolan stressed additional substitute teachers will be needed as schools manage staffing during the public health emergency.
Local example cited
The deputy pointed to a specific case in Forban where a school is due to lose a teacher, describing the outcome as totally unfair and urging intervention to prevent further losses.
Administrative routes and ministerial response
The Tánaiste acknowledged the issue and noted a mechanism exists for small schools to appeal or have decisions reviewed. The Tánaiste also said the minister is due to take oral questions next week and that the deadline for submitting those questions remains open, allowing representatives to seek detailed answers.
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Yes, I raised this and I have serious concerns. I think that the pragmatic thing to do would be to bring in a moratorium. I did raise it with the previous minister. I feel that it's only fair and only right because lots of extra sub-teachers will be needed. We have teachers and we have schools that are only falling very marginally short of the number required to retain teachers. If they lose that valuable teacher, it puts them in a difficult position and I'm aware in my own constituency there's one school in Forban. where they're losing a teacher. It's totally unfair and I would ask you that, given that we're in the middle of a pandemic, that we show some common sense and put a moratorium on any teacher losses. Thank you very much, Tanaiste. Thanks, Deputy. This is an important issue and I understand there is a mechanism that is in place for small schools that were due to lose a school to have that decision appealed or reviewed. I don't know if there are any plans to have a moratorium, but as I mentioned earlier, Minister Fody will be here to take oral questions next week. The deadline is still open for people to submit those questions and I'm sure she'll be happy to answer them in detail. Thank you. Thank you.
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