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Special Educational Needs Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020

Tuesday, 8 September 2020

Questions (499)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

499. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the use of special education teachers as substitute cover; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21270/20]

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Written answers

The Department is very conscious of ensuring that schools reopen safely. One of the arrangements being put in place is to increase the certainty of supply of substitute teachers for primary schools. This is being done by creating supply panels nationwide which will give teachers fixed term contracts to be available as substitute teachers for a cluster of primary schools.

The circular letter 45/2020 sets out that sequence for a school to access substitutes. The aim is to get a substitute firstly from:

- a supply panel,

- the school’s own panel of regular substitutes or

- from the ‘Text a Sub’ portal.

When these arrangements have been exhausted and a substitute is still needed in an emergency situation to protect the class bubble, it is outlined in the circular that a school can use other non-mainstream teachers to cover the absence.

This arrangement is an interim measure and the school must continue to seek a substitute to cover the absence. It is only in these types of instances that the school can use other non-mainstream teachers.

Schools should seek to minimise the amount of times that SET teachers are used for substitution purposes and keep a record of such instances. The SET should also not be used to cover long term absences.

Any loss of special education teaching support by students should be made up at the first available opportunity by employing additional teaching resources to make up for the shortfall.

Special education teachers may only be used as a substitute in an emergency as outlined above.

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