Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
Roll No. School Name Address Town/Townland County
81002K Mount Temple Malahide Road Dublin
Comprehensive School
81002K Mount Temple Malahide Road Dublin
Comprehensive School
81002K Mount Temple Malahide Road Dublin
Comprehensive School
01795A Central Model Infants Marlborough St Dublin
School
01795A Central Model Infants Marlborough St Dublin
School
01795A Central Model Infants Marlborough St Dublin
School
03359N Ballyroan Boys NS Ballyroan Road Rathfarnham Dublin
19877C Holy Family SNS River Valley Swords Dublin
Teachers’ Remuneration
193. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total travel
expenses paid to teachers shared between schools, in tabular form, for each of the years 2008
to 2012; the number of teachers who availed of such expenses; the average payment made per
teacher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7563/12]
194. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the projected travel
expenses which will be paid to teachers shared between schools following the revisions to the
general allocation model; the methodology employed to arrive at this projection; and if he will
make a statement on the matter. [7564/12]
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn): I propose to take Questions Nos.
193 and 194 together.
The information sought by the Deputy from 2008 to 2012 is set out in the table. Shared-fulltime
teaching posts and travel between schools is a long standing feature of the primary system.
The cost of this travel in 2011 was just over €1.3m. My Department does not anticipate any
significant increase in these costs in 2012. The teaching allocation for many schools under the
General Allocation Model (GAM) has not been updated since it was first introduced in 2005.
This has led to inequity and inefficiencies. The GAM clustering arrangements that date back
to 2005 may no longer be the most appropriate and efficient arrangements for 2012. The updating
of the GAM allocation for all schools is now being done and this will take effect from
September 2012. Under the new and simplified arrangements the GAM hours are being allocated
in 5-hour blocks (equivalent to 1 school day) to facilitate clustering of hours into fulltime
posts and which will also, where feasible, facilitate a teacher going to a neighbouring
school from the start of a school day. The Department will be giving autonomy to schools to
decide who to cluster their GAM hours with. This should facilitate schools clustering with their
nearest neighbouring schools and thereby ensure that travel and travel costs are minimised.
The Department will be working closely with schools and the relevant education partners to
ensure that the arrangements operate as efficiently as possible.
Summary of Travel Expenses paid to Primary Teachers from 2008 to 2012 to date
Year Total Expenditure paid in Number of teachers Average payment per
the year
teacher
2008 1,786,514.64 1,130 1,581
2009 1,653,176.40 1,144 1,445
405