Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
871. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the details of the review process that took place prior to reinstating banked hours in relation to banked hours which have been reinstated from January to February mid-term; if the situation will be reviewed prior to the removal in February mid-term and the use of banked hours potentially extended if necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2669/22]
View answerWhile the Department has provided supports to schools to allow them to support their operation during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department also recognises that given the current high case numbers schools will continue to require additional substitute cover. In the period leading up to the mid-term break (to 23rd February 2022) a range of measures have been put in place to assist in dealing with absences during this phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. These include flexibility around student teacher availability.
Given the current level of employee absences across sectors, including the education sector, the Department understands that some schools have on occasion had to use their non-mainstream, non-classroom teachers to maintain in-person education. In these circumstances the Department is conscious that these children may also have missed an opportunity to get additional support from their SET and is now permitting the banking of SET hours from January until the February mid-term break, in line with all of the additional measures to support schools during this phase of the pandemic.
