Panel rights for religious-school teachers
Quill asked whether surplus teachers in Protestant schools and religious teachers in ordinary second-level schools would receive panel rights. The Minister said the matter was under active consideration and that schools would be informed before September.
In relation to Church of Ireland and other Protestant schools, in the event of the information thrown up leading to teachers being deemed to be surplus, has the Minister any plans to extend panel rights to teachers of those schools? Equally, has she made any provision for religious teachers in ordinary second level schools who hitherto have had very restricted, if any, panel rights?
Comment on this
The matter to which the Deputy refers — the position of Church of Ireland schools and religious orders — is under very active consideration in my Department. My officials have been meeting — and in some instances I have met with them — with the interests concerned and we are working out what we hope will be an agreeable answer to the points the Deputy has raised. We are considering them at present.