Principals accuse Tánaiste of insulting them over vacant posts

TÁNAISTE Mary Coughlan was accused of insulting principals last night after telling them they were lucky their jobs will continue to be filled when they retire while other management posts are left vacant.

The Education Minister told a conference of second-level principals and board chairpersons that she will soon announce details of how they will be allowed to fill some middle management posts left vacant up to a year because of a public service promotions ban.

But she drew jeers from delegates at the Joint Managerial Body (JMB) gathering after pointing out that Government had prioritised schools spending by allowing the automatic filling of principal and deputy principal posts despite the moratorium which took effect in March 2009.

“My predecessor Batt O’Keeffe fought very hard to make sure this was happening, where unfortunately perhaps, in health and other sectors, frontline staff are not being replaced, particularly in nursing,” Ms Coughlan told 400 delegates.

JMB general secretary Ferdia Kelly said in response school managers find it insulting to have it suggested they are lucky to be able to appoint principals and deputy principals.

He urged Ms Coughlan to let schools know by mid-May how the moratorium will be eased for schools worst affected by retirements.

The Tánaiste later indicated to reporters she expects to finalise details with the Department of Finance before early June.

The annual conference of the JMB, representing 392 religious-run second level schools, earlier heard principals fear legal ramifications because of schools’ inability to perform all their functions because of the stripping of some middle management posts.

Colette McGrath, principal of Ardscoil Mhuire in Corbally, Co Limerick, said vacancies in all seven assistant principal posts at her school because of the moratorium mean she must try to juggle their duties on top of her own.

“We may lose a generation of students because of all the cutbacks and the moratorium. My concern is they may come back and ask why from a legal perspective, and myself and my board may be held accountable,” she said.

Joe O’Dwyer, manager of Intermediate College, Killorglin, Co Kerry, took issue with second level teacher unions, whose members in middle management posts have been precluded from moving to fulfil the most vital duties in schools where they are left vacant by retirements.

“It is criminal that the ASTI would do this to their fellow members, the heads of schools, by withdrawing the help of people who wish to volunteer,” he said.

Mr Kelly made a plea to union members to favourably consider the public service pay and reform agreement: “I ask that people step back from the brink and look at what’s in the Croke Park agreement,” he said.