Eligibility

All qualified permanent and temporary teachers serving in a recognised primary school are eligible to apply for posts of responsibility, i.e. deputy principal, assistant principal and special duties teacher. However, a qualified temporary teacher may only be appointed to a post of responsibility in a temporary/acting capacity for the duration of his/her contract, or until the post ceases to be warranted in the school, whichever is the earlier.

Teachers on Approved Leave

Teachers who are on approved leave, such as sick leave, maternity leave, parental leave or career break are eligible to apply for a post of responsibility. A copy of the notice of the vacant post of responsibility should be sent by registered post to such teachers at their contact addresses. It is a matter for teachers on leave to ensure that the board of management has an up-to-date and current contact address.

Ex-quota Teaching Posts (Shared and Non-Shared)

A teacher working in a special ex-quota teaching post on a non-shared basis, is eligible to apply and be appointed to all posts of responsibility (excluding principal), i.e. deputy principal, assistant principal or special duties post.

A teacher working in a special education ex-quota post on a shared basis e.g. shared learning support teacher, is eligible to be appointed or to continue to hold, a special duties post or an assistant principal post, subject to the board of management being satisfied, that the duties of the post will be fully discharged.

A teacher working in a shared ex-quota teaching post is eligible to be appointed to the post of deputy principal, but s/he will be required to relinquish the deputy principalship temporarily, while working in the shared teaching position. Where a deputy principal relinquishes his/her post temporarily, an acting deputy principal may be appointed.

Job-sharing Teachers:

A teacher who is job sharing is eligible to hold or to be appointed to the post of deputy principal but s/he will be required to relinquish the deputy principalship temporarily while job-sharing.

Where a deputy principal relinquishes his/her post temporarily, an acting deputy principal may be appointed.

A teacher who is job sharing is eligible to hold or be appointed to a special duties post or an assistant principal position on a shared basis or on a full time basis. In the case of the latter, i.e. full-time basis, the teacher may retain the post of responsibility on a full time basis where the board of management of the school is satisfied that the duties of the post will be fully discharged in the course of the job share.