Supervision and substitution duties are core duties for all teachers since the Haddington Road Agreement. A limited group of teachers were allowed to opt-out of the duties in return for a pay reduction. Department Circular 0006/2014 states that with effect from the beginning of the 2013/14 school year, participation in the Supervision and Substitution scheme will be compulsory for all teachers, save for those who avail of the opt-out arrangement.
Under public service pay agreements, the allowance which was previously payable for Supervision and substitution duties is being incorporated into the teacher pay scale in two moieties – the first on 1 September 2016 and the second on 1 September 2017. Participation in this scheme is additional to existing teacher class contact hours.