Panels (not the MDF kind)
The infamous panels are almost holding pens for teachers who are being redeployed or who have built up a certain amount of service (3 or 5 years) through either substitute or temporary work or part time work. If you are reading this in 2012 - note that some of this criteria and information may change again next year or indeed this year. But for the moment this is as it stands.
There are different panels depending on the type school in which you work
Most schools in Ireland are catholic. So the catholic panels are the largest. They are based on a diocesan basis. The school you are working in may be in Co. Galway but of could be one of three dioceses, the same is true for Clare, Cork in fact all counties. So become aware of which diocese you are in. If you are unsure look at this diocese webpage. If you are eligible for the panel, you can be offered a school within 45km of the school you are working in NOT your home, your school. So you may have to drive further away from home depending on how big your diocese is. Be aware of these logistics for your situation. The CPSMA or the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association have a representative in each diocese who is in charge of each panel.
The Church of Ireland panel also works on a diocesan structure. These too cover large geographical areas so you should familiarise yourself with their boundaries.
This is a patronage system for gaelscoileanna where the focus of the school is on the provision of education through the medium of Irish as opposed to giving the school a religious patronage. Schools under the Foras may be of any denomination or non, many are multi-denominational.
The Foras have a national panel where you may be offered a job outside of the 45km remit if you choose to tick the appropriate box on the panel application form.
Educate Together are multi-denominational schools based country wide. Again if you work in an Educate Together school are will be placed on the nationwide panel. You may be offered a post outside of the 45km radius if you tick the appropriate box on the panel rights form.
Special Panel
This panel is for teachers who are working in special needs school are teaching with "restricted recognition", this is also a national panel where a teacher placed on this panel will be redeployed to another special schools. There is a change to this panel in 2012 "A further change is that the Supplementary Special National Panel for the 2013/14 school year will be used only for filling permanent teaching posts in special schools that are not otherwise required for the redeployment of surplus permanent teachers. The Main Special National Panel for surplus permanent and CID holding teachers will continue to operate in the normal manner in respect of relevant posts in all schools." from the INTO FAQ section.
Private Schools, Steiner Education, Muslim Schools...
There are many different types of schools in Ireland such as those mentioned in the title. It should be noted that as far as Subkit is aware they do not have a panel. If you are working in or have worked in any of these systems please contact the Department of Education or the INTO.
Can I switch between panels?
If you want to switch between panels, you must contact the relevant panel outlining your reasons for switching.
How do the panels work?
The Department of Education have published a new circular this year regarding the panels.
There are two panels:
- The Main Panel: for permanent teachers who are being redeployed
- The Supplementary Deployment Panel for teachers with 3-5 substitute or temporary or part-time years service on point 5 or 6 of the incremental scale and satisfy certain criteria
Please note: a mixture of service is accepted for the above
To find out which what the criteria is see this link look for Circular Number: 0012/2038 entitled Panel access for fixed-term (temporary), substitute and part-time teachers agus as gaeilge Rochtain painéal do mhúinteoirí ar chonradh téarma socraithe (sealadach), do mhúinteoirí ionaid agus do mhúinteoirí páirtaimseartha
Read our blog on the Supplementary panel and on calculating your correct incremental point
Read the INTO information on Panel Access for Fixed Term (Temporary), Substitute and Part Time Teachers and their FAQ document
Criteria for Supplementary Panel (3 years working experience)
1. Teaching Council Registration
2. Probation completed
3. Incremental point criteria
- 3 year Initial Qualification: 4th point on the scale. €29,000 gross basic earnings by 31st Dec 2012. If you are on the 4th point you must have a contract from the 14th of Dec to the end of the school year this year. Must be probated etc... see circular
- 4 year Initial qualification: 5th on the scale. €29,000 gross basic earnings in 2012 calendar year. If you are on the 5th point you must have a contract from the 14th of Dec to the end of the school year. You must satisfy general criteria - probation etc see circular
4. Earn €29,000 in Gross Earnings by Dec 31st 2012
To apply you need to access the circular (link above), the form is contained in the appendix of the circular. The form must be returned to the Dept. of Ed on or before the 14th of Dec. It is a self declaration form, all of the information contained on the form. They will email you when your application has been processed and inform you whether your application to be part of the panel has been successful.
Be sure to check the Dept of Ed website and visit the INTO website (links above) for more information. The INTO website also details dates of meetings for teachers wishing to join the panel.
