Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Nov 1998

Vol. 495 No. 7

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

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]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

A teacher absent on unpaid compassionate leave may be replaced by a temporary teacher whose salary is paid by my Department.

A teacher absent on paid compassionate leave may be replaced by a substitute teacher. However, except in the case of one teacher schools, the salary of the substitute teacher is not borne by my Department.

As an alternative to appointing a substitute teacher, a board of management may wish to redistribute the class(es) of the absent teacher among the remaining teaching staff.

Any change in these arrangements would have to be considered in light of available resources.