Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
768. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if she has considered relaxing the rules to allow teachers on parental leave to teach when they are technically scheduled to be on leave, when beneficial to the teacher, in order to help mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on school teaching complement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1137/22]
View answerThe Parental Leave Scheme is regulated by the Parental Leave Act 1998, as amended. The purpose of Parental Leave is to allow a teacher a period of unpaid leave to care for their child. The Parental Leave Scheme for teachers is contained in my Department’s Circular Letter 54/2019.
Under legislation, the employer in granting Parental Leave should, 4 weeks prior to the planned commencement date, prepare with the teacher a Confirmation Document which constitutes a legal agreement between the parties. A teacher may revoke the Parental Leave application at any point prior to the signing of the Confirmation Document by both parties. If, after the Confirmation Document has been signed (whether or not the Parental Leave period to which it relates has commenced), the leave or part of it may be (i) postponed, (ii) curtailed or (iii) varied, subject to agreement between the employer and the teacher taking account of the terms and conditions of the Parental Leave Scheme. Where Parental Leave is postponed, curtailed or varied, the leave not taken by reason of postponement, curtailment or variation may be taken at such other time, as agreed between the employer and the teacher. The contract for the replacement teacher must also be considered prior to agreement on postponement, curtailment or variation of Parental Leave. In such a case, the Confirmation Document should be amended accordingly.
