Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 October 2018
91. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) is having to send the children home early due to staff shortages; the action he is taking to ensure the issue is resolved as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42618/18]
View answerIn the last two years 5,000 additional teachers have been hired. It is the case that many teachers who would have been available to carry out substitute work are now gaining permanent and long term contracts.
In order to ease the situation, in the last school year the limits that teachers on career break can work as substitutes were suspended. Schools were also reminded that, in considering career break applications, the needs of pupils should take precedence and they must take account of the availability of appropriate qualified replacement teachers.
As the Deputy is aware, earlier this year the Teacher Supply Steering Group was established. The Steering Group is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department. The Steering Group is considering the issues that impact on teacher supply, including: initial teacher education policy, provision, funding and support; data/research requirements; policies and arrangements for schools and teachers that impact on teacher mobility/supply; and promotion of the teaching profession. The Steering Group will oversee a programme of actions according to strict timelines and clear deliverables. In undertaking its task, the Group is cognisant of the requirement that all persons wishing to teach in recognised schools must meet the professional registration standards and criteria set by the Teaching Council, which is the professional regulatory body for the teaching profession.
The Steering Group is supported by a number of working groups which are looking in more detail at the issues under these broad headings.
At this point the Steering Group and the working groups reporting to it have met on a number of occasions and I hope to be in a position to announce further measures to support teacher supply over the coming period.
