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Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan Monaghan, Brendan Smith, has called on the people of both counties to Vote yes in the upcoming stability treaty.

Deputy Smith commented: “There are 13,860 people unemployed in Cavan and Monaghan. I will be honest and say that the treaty will not cure all our economic woes but it will definitely allow Cavan, Monaghan and Ireland to have a more secure foundation for our future.

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan Monaghan, Brendan Smith, has called on the people of both counties to Vote yes in the upcoming stability treaty.

Deputy Smith commented: “There are 13,860 people unemployed in Cavan and Monaghan. I will be honest and say that the treaty will not cure all our economic woes but it will definitely allow Cavan, Monaghan and Ireland to have a more secure foundation for our future.

Nearly one quarter of the superintendents hired by the State Examination Commission to supervise the Junior and Leaving Certificate Exams last year were retired teachers, according to new figures obtained by Fianna Fáil’s Education Spokesperson Brendan Smith.

Deputy Smith tabled a series of Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Education and Skills and the State Examinations confirmed to him that 1,147 retired teachers were appointed as exam Superintendents last year, out of a total 4,735. In addition to this 393 retired teachers were employed to correct exam papers out of a total of 5,168 and 192 retired teachers were hired as Leaving Certificate Oral Examiners out of a total of 1100.

Commenting on the figures, Deputy Smith said, “It is unacceptable that at a time when thousands of qualified teachers are looking for jobs, at least 1,732 jobs were handed over to retired teachers last Summer. These may be temporary positions, but they provide a real opportunity to offer newly qualified teachers a salary and valuable work experience while they continue to search for a permanent teaching position.