Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 November 2021
340. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education if a school will be facilitated as the host of, and be a base for, a supply panel for substitute teachers for a number of schools in a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55510/21]
View answerAs 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.
The base schools were firstly identified in conjunction with the INTO and primary management bodies. The INTO and management bodies made contact with these schools with a view to being a base for that location.
In forming the Supply Panel clusters, my Department's GIS system identified the receiving schools based on distance from the base school. Teaching posts were allocated to each Supply Panel cluster based on the number of permanent teaching positions in the schools in the cluster and the distance to the base school.
My Department has further engaged with the education stakeholders on the issues raised about the current difficulty in accessing substitutes for teacher absences.
Among other measures, a review of the supply panels has taken place and approximately 100 additional teachers are being added to existing/new areas where significant challenges have been demonstrated in sourcing substitution. Posts have been allocated to the base schools to allow for the recruitment of additional staff immediately.
My Department will continue to keep this matter under review in collaboration with the education stakeholders.
