Frankie Feighan TD asked the Minister for Education: School Staff

Frankie Feighan, the Fine Gael TD for Leitrim, raised a question in the Dáil on Tuesday regarding the assessment of candidates applying for school leadership posts. He asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether experience gained outside a candidate’s immediate school environment – such as service with the Office of the Inspector of Education (OIDE), the Professional Development and School Trust (PDST), the National College of the Catholic Church (NCC), or other schools and workplaces – could be used as evidence of competence. Mr Feighan further inquired whether such external experience should carry the same weight in the scoring system as evidence obtained within the school itself. The Minister was asked to clarify the policy on accrediting non‑school experience for roles that carry responsibility. The question was part of a broader discussion on how best to recognise diverse professional backgrounds in the recruitment of school staff. The TD’s query reflects ongoing concerns about ensuring a fair and transparent selection process for school leadership positions. For the full transcript, see the Oireachtas records.

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