Paul McGrath
Ceist:722 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a teacher can be absent from a primary school on compassionate leave for five days and his Department will not pay for a substitute teacher in this situation; if his attention has been further drawn to the difficulty and inconvenience this causes for the other teachers and pupils of the school, particularly in two, three and four teacher schools; if he has satisfied himself that the options available to the board of management, that is to pay for a substitute teacher, divide the pupils between the other teachers or send the children home for an extra week's holidays are totally unacceptable; and if he will ensure that substitute teachers in these circumstances will be paid by his Department. [21594/98]