Tensions to rise in school staff rooms over vacant positions

SCHOOL staff rooms are to become more tense in autumn as principals warn of the impact of union orders not to fill vacant management positions.

It is more than a month since Tánaiste and Education Minister Mary Coughlan told second level school managers she would announce details of how the ban on replacing assistant principal and special duties post holders would be eased.

But with second level schools about to begin summer holidays this week and no details yet as to which schools will be given temporary exemption from the public service promotions ban, school managers will have to wait until staff return in August to start the process.