Teachers challenge decision to redeploy them

Two secondary school teachers from Roscommon Town have initiated High Court judicial review proceedings challenging their redeployment. Aisling McTiernan and Aimee Costello, who have each taught at Meán Scoil Muire Gan Smál for over a decade, were selected for redeployment following a Department of Education and Skills circular issued after the school was deemed to have excess teaching staff for the 2019/20 academic year. The teachers appealed the decisions to the school's board of management but were unsuccessful. In their proceedings against both the Minister for Education and the board of management, they contend the redeployment breaches departmental circular requirements, constitutes a breach of fair procedures, and is irrational and unreasonable. They specifically allege the Minister failed to base decisions on accurate audit data and did not provide rationale for determining certain subjects surplus to requirements. The teachers seek orders quashing both the ministerial decision and the board's refusal of their appeals, together with damages. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan granted permission on an ex-parte basis and remitted the matter to July.