Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 16 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 6

Written Answers - Teacher Appointments.

Tom Enright

Ceist:

68 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to develop a nationwide structure for supply teachers who provide temporary cover for teachers who are sick or otherwise unable to attend school; and the timescale over which such a network will be put in place. [16696/97]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

A substitute supply scheme which is designed to provide substitute cover for absences by teachers on short-term sick leave has been in operation since 1993 in primary schools in six locations throughout the country.

In March 1997 the outgoing Minister for Education agreed staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 1997-98 school year with the Irish National Teachers Organisation. These agreed arrangements were based on the allocation of surplus posts available for redistribution from the demographic dividend for the 1997-98 school year and included the provision of a further 30 posts for the extension of the scheme in the current year.

The Deputy will be aware that An Action Programme for the Millennium contains a commitment to give primary education a clear priority in the allocation of resources. Further expansion of the substitute supply scheme will be considered in this context.