Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 October 2021
254. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education her plans to reinstate a supply panel of substitute teachers at primary level in Dublin city and county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49205/21]
View answer258. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education her plans to establish supply panels on a nationwide basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49219/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 258 together.
As part of the COVID-19 supports provided to schools in 2020, additional funding of €41.2 million was allocated to provide primary schools with substitute staff.
This funding allowed for the expansion of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panel from a pilot scheme consisting of 6 base schools to 132 Substitute Teacher Supply Panels nationwide, with almost 380 newly appointed Supply Panel teachers employed, providing substitute cover to over 2,500 schools across the country. Primary schools have been informed that the Supply Panel Scheme will continue for the 2021/22 school year.
The scheme provides more certainty on the availability of substitutes for primary schools and allows for substitutions that are not covered by existing schemes.
