Aisling McTiernan and Aimee Costello win redeployment case

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Aisling McTiernan and Aimee Costello won separate High Court challenges against decisions to redeploy them.

The teachers had been selected for redeployment after Meán Scoil Muire Gan Smál in Roscommon Town was informed that its teaching staff would exceed its approved allocation for 2019/2020. Both had unsuccessfully appealed the decisions. Their proceedings alleged breaches of the Department’s circular, failures of fair procedures and inadequate reasons.

The Department of Education and Skills agreed to an order quashing the Minister’s refusal to uphold the appeal. It conceded that it had failed to give adequate reasons for the decision, but said its offer to concede was not intended to affect the school board’s decision.

The school decided not to continue defending the proceedings and was prepared to consent to an order quashing its redeployment decision. Mr Justice Noonan issued the necessary orders in early August. Costs were awarded to the applicants in both actions, to be taxed in default of agreement.

The outcome meant both teachers remained employed at the school.