Dermot Ahern
Question:310 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Education the reason her Department will not pay substitute teachers to replace those teachers who are absent on compassionate leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Compassionate Leave.
Teachers may avail of compassionate leave, subject to the approval of the board of management, in the case of the death of a member of their immediate family, a near relative or in-law. Leave is also sanctioned in the case of a teacher who is tending to a seriously ill member of the immediate family or in-law or to accompany an immediate family member or relative to hospital for a serious operation or treatment.
In the majority of cases the absence is for a short period of from one to five days and it is the responsibility of the school authorities to arrange classes so that the pupils of the absent teacher receive instruction.
My Department recognises that this arrangement would be unworkable in a one-teacher national school; accordingly, paid substitution is provided in such cases. The provision of paid substitution in the case of all absences on compassionate grounds would have serious financial implications.