Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
619. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the reason some schools are not part of a cluster to provide substitute supply panels (details supplied); if the criteria which determines if a school is part of a cluster and thus allocated to a panel will be provided; if recourse is available to a school that is not allocated access to a panel and is seeking inclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22427/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Roadmap for the Full Return to School provides for comprehensive supports across a range of areas to allow for the safe reopening of schools.
Among the supports provided is the extension of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panel. The scheme has been expanded from a pilot scheme consisting of 6 base schools to over 100 base schools, providing substitute cover to over 2,000 schools across the country.
The base schools were firstly identified in conjunction with the INTO and primary management bodies. The INTO and management bodies made contact with these schools with a view to being a base for that location.
In forming the Supply Panel clusters, my Department's GIS system identified the receiving schools based on distance from the base school. Teaching posts were allocated to each Supply Panel cluster based on the number of permanent teaching positions in the schools in the cluster and the distance to the base school.
A Supply Panel cluster has been established in the Dublin 17 area. Our Lady Immaculate SNS is the base school for the cluster and the other schools referred to by the Deputy are part of cluster.
