IPPN

Teacher TDs will have job safety net for 10 years [Independent.ie]

Published: 08 February 2011

NEWLY elected teacher TDs and senators will be able to keep their old jobs open for up to 10 years in future, the Irish Independent has learnt.

However, the teachers-turned-politicians will lose their pension perks.

The Government has responded to complaints the present system is unfair as it allows them to keep their teaching posts open indefinitely.

But its decision to introduce a 10-year maximum was described last night as too generous.

Labour TD Roisin Shortall, who resigned her teaching post two years ago, said she believed that the new limit was "too much".

"There is a high turnover of TDs, but if you are elected for a second term you should resign your teaching job," Ms Shortall said.

The Government has also decided teacher members of the Oireachtas will no longer move up the pay scale in their absence from school.

At present, they normally return to school on higher pay than when they were elected.

At the top of the pay scale that difference could have been worth up to €15,000 a year -- and a much higher pension.

The Government has also decided that they can no longer chalk up both teaching and Oireachtas pensions at the same time.