Hundreds of primary school teaching principals are set to benefit from a new scheme which allows them additional time to concentrate on administrative duties outside the classroom.
A Department of Education circular - to be issued to schools shortly - doubles the number of release days available for teaching principals. Release days are special days when principals are replaced in the classroom by a substitute so they can concentrate on management issues.
The INTO, which represents principals, said the changes represented "a significant improvement in working conditions". The INTO general secretary, Senator Joe O'Toole, said the INTO had wanted the pressure taken off teaching principals for a long time and finally the Department of Education was recognising this.
Principals in schools with one or two teachers will have their release days doubled to 12. Principals in schools with three or four teachers will have their days increased to 16, and principals in schools with five or six teachers will get 20 release days per year.
Senator O'Toole welcomed the circular, but added: "There are other serious issues of concern to principal teachers, such as the provision of full caretaking and secretarial services." He said the union would also be working on these.
The Department's circular says the principal must be present in the school during release days.
It also says release time should not be taken immediately after other types of leave, such as sick leave.
Principals will be required - in consultation with their board of management - to draft a programme of duties to be done during release time. "A brief report on the use of the release time must be presented at one board of management meeting annually," says the circular.
The report should be retained in the school and available for inspection by a Department inspector.
The circular gives examples of the work principals might consider during release time. These include:
Drafting school policies;
Consulting with teachers about curriculum, discipline and support services;
Making returns to the Department of Education;
Liaising with parents;
Liaising with the board of management;
Dealing with employment matters;
Liaising with agencies such as health boards and psychologists.