A LEGAL challenge by a number of secondary school teachers to the Government’s suspension of an early retirement scheme has commenced before the High Court.
In judicial review proceedings the teachers claim a Government decision suspending the scheme, first announced in last October’s budget and officially notified in November last, has deprived them of their legitimate expectation to avail of the scheme.
The four teachers are: Eleanor Curran, Oakvilla Avenue, Oakpark, Tralee, who works at the Intermediate School, Killorglin, Kerry; Mary Holden, Dublin Road, Portlaoise, who works at Brigidine Secondary School, Mountrath, Laois; Bridget Galvin, Wilton Court, Cork, who works at St Vincent’s Secondary School, St Mary’s Road, Cork; and Pat McVeigh, Sarto Park, Sutton, principal of Belcamp College, Coolock, Dublin.
The State has denied the teachers’ claims.
Yesterday, Gerard Hogan SC, for the teachers, said the scheme was due to run up to the end of this year and they were legitimately entitled to expect to avail of it.
Counsel said the scheme was first introduced in the 2006/2007 school year and was to continue to the end of the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 school years.
The terms of the scheme did not allow for the “unilateral variation” effected in this case, Mr Hogan said.
The action before Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne continues.