Surplus teachers ‘not paid to do nothing’

TEACHER unions have denied that members who are surplus to schools’ staff allocations are being paid to do nothing.

Department of Education figures have revealed that 120 second level schools have more teachers than allowed for under official staffing levels. These levels are based on the number of pupils at the school and the teacher allocations are calculated in terms of whole-time posts, including part-time staff.

But while there appear to be 250 surplus teachers in the system, the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) said there was no question that people were sitting around staff rooms with no work to do.