10th April 2025
Following intensive engagement by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) in recent weeks, the Department of Education and Youth has today published Circular 27/2025. The publication of this Circular will see the return of 110 Assistant principal I posts and 251 Assistant Principal II posts.
The revised table of Posts of Responsibility ensures that a considerable number of schools who have 16 or more authorised teaching posts in this school year will see a small increase in the number of AP1s and/or AP2s they are entitled to from 1 September 2025. Today’s publication means that since 2017, nearly 3,700 posts of responsibility will have been restored.
From the beginning of the next school year the total number of assistant principal posts in the primary school sector will match the pre-austerity number, thereby realising the union’s initial campaign goal. These additional posts will improve promotional opportunities for teachers who will gain vital experience at middle management level.
The GEM Report on Leadership in Education published last October spotlighted shared leadership. A key message from the report highlighted that by empowering assistant principals and distributing leadership responsibilities a significant impact can be made, fostering innovation, diversity and inclusion which drives school improvement.
The posts now being restored will commence in primary and special schools from September 2025. Last May Information Note TC/IN 005/2024, which amended section 3.2 of Chapter 3 of Circular 44/2019 was published. This allows for the commencement of the recruitment process when a school becomes aware that a vacancy will arise.
A recording of a webinar for Principals on Making Appointments to Posts of Responsibility is available here.
INTO General Secretary John Boyle thanked Minister McEntee and departmental officials for publishing the circular prior to Easter, thereby giving ample time for the filling of the extra posts by Boards of Management before the end of the school year.
In the coming years the union will seek further expansion of middle leadership teams to add to the capacity of primary and special schools to meet the demands of the system for the implementation of the curriculum, the continued augmentation of special education provision and the coordination of various other initiatives.