Vol. 555 No. 4
98 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the details of the release scheme for principals in national schools; and the plans in place to provide trained substitute teachers to service the principals release scheme. [18738/02]
The release scheme to which the Deputy refers was introduced in the 2000-01 school year to allow release time for principals in primary schools with six or less mainstream class teachers. The release time enables the teaching principal to be released for a specified number of days annually to undertake administrative, leadership and management functions within the school. Substitution cover is paid by my Department in respect of these release days. The employment of the substitute teacher is a matter for the relevant school board of management. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, for the current school year, I have increased by two days the total number of release days available to principals in the different categories of schools. The total number of days now allowable per school year are as follows: School with principal plus five/six teachers – 22 days; principal plus three/four teachers – 18 days; principal plus zero/one/two teachers – 14 days. A circular outlining the details can be viewed on the website of my Department and will be issued to all boards of management in the near future.
