Redeployment

Redeployment

There are two redeployment schemes currently in operation in second-level schools. In addition, a voluntary redeployment scheme is currently under discussion.

The scheme that affects the largest number of schools and teachers is the redeployment scheme for teachers surplus to requirements other than in situations of school closure.

• Redeployment scheme for teachers surplus to requirements other than in situations of school closure
• Redeployment in the case of school closures
• Voluntary Redeployment

Redeployment scheme for teachers surplus to requirements other than in situations of school closure

A scheme allowing for the redeployment of teachers into schools with teaching vacancies (other than in situations of school closure) was included in the Croke Park Agreement, which was accepted by ASTI members in January 2011.

Nominating teachers for redeployment
If a school or ETB has one or more teachers employed in excess of their allocation, they must notify the Director of the Redeployment Scheme of the teachers identified for redeployment. If a school or ETB believes that its surplus position is short-term or transient, it may present its evidence of this opinion to the Director, who may defer a decision in relation to redeployment. Only permanent/CID teachers can be redeployed.

In the first instance, the school or ETB will ascertain if any member of staff wishes to be considered for redeployment voluntarily. Those teachers who volunteer for redeployment will be offered vacancies first and can choose to refuse a redeployment vacancy.

At the same time, teachers will be identified for compulsory redeployment based on seniority and the school’s curricular needs. For full details on the identification of teachers for redeployment, see below.  

Any teacher nominated for redeployment should be provided with a statement by the school setting out the basis for its decision. This statement should include a list of all permanent/CID teachers in the school together with their teaching subjects.  It should also include a statement of the curricular reasons, based on the curriculum audit, why the school believes “it is not possible to cope without” the services of any teacher below them on the Seniority List for Redeployment.

A teacher nominated for redeployment can appeal to the Director of the Redeployment Scheme if they feel the correct process and procedures were not complied with in their identification for redeployment.

Identifying vacancies
Each year, schools and ETBs must notify the Director of the Redeployment Scheme of any vacancies, permanent or temporary, that exist in their school. The Director will then try to assign redeployed teachers to these vacancies.

Assigning teachers to vacancies
A teacher identified for redeployment may be assigned to a school within a maximum radius of 50km from his/her existing school or, where they request, from their place of residence.

The Director of the Redeployment Scheme will seek to match a teacher to a vacancy that matches their qualifications and experience and will take into account the curricular needs of the school, the teacher’s preference where more than one post exists, travelling time for the teacher and any other factor deemed relevant by the Director.

If the Director is unable to redeploy a teacher because there is no suitable vacancy available, the teacher will not be redeployed in that year.

Teachers will transfer their reckonable teaching service for promotion purposes in the previous school to the receiving school, except in the case of teachers being redeployed from one voluntary secondary school to another voluntary secondary school.

Any post-holder who is redeployed will retain their post of responsibility allowance and will be required to carry out in-school management duties in the receiving school.

Further details of this redeployment scheme are available here. 

Redeployment in the case of school closures

The second redeployment scheme in operation in second-level schools deals with redeployment in the case of school closures. It was negotiated between the ASTI/TUI and the Department of Education in 2007. The scheme covers all qualified permanent and CID teachers in recognised second-level schools who are surplus to requirements due to school closures. 

For full details, read the ASTI Information Leaflet, Redeployment Scheme for Post Primary Qualified Teachers Surplus to Requirements in Consequence of School Closure

Voluntary Redeployment

A pilot voluntary redeployment scheme was established in 2013 and has continued every year since. The scheme allows permanent/CID teachers who are employed in schools in designated counties to express an interest in being redeployed to another post primary school anywhere in the country. In 2023, the scheme is open to permanent/CID teachers who are employed in a post primary school:

• In counties Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath who wish to be considered for redeployment to a school in any location.
• Outside of Dublin and who wish to be considered for redeployment to a school in Dublin.

If you apply for voluntary redeployment and a suitable vacancy exists in a school in your preferred area, you may be offered a redeployment to that vacancy. However, you will only be redeployed if a suitable teacher can be redeployed to your school to replace you.

Your school must indicate its willingness to release you and to accept a replacement teacher on redeployment. Principals should declare on the form the preferred subject options that the school requires as a replacement for you, if you are redeployed. These subjects do not have to be your subjects; this gives the school an opportunity to address a curriculum mismatch within the school.

For further information and application form, please see here. 

The ASTI is continuing to pursue a permanent nationwide voluntary redeployment scheme.