Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 September 2020
181. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if funding for providing a release day each week for teaching principals at primary level to carry out administrative work is permanent; the number of schools that have benefited; the estimated ongoing cost of maintaining same beyond the 2020/2021 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23018/20]
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.
€10.2m in additional funding has been allocated to support Principals and Deputy Principals who also undertake teaching duties in primary schools. This funding will provide each teaching principal with one release day per week, and release days for Deputy Principals in those schools that have an existing administrative principal. Details on these arrangements are set out in Circular 45/2020, Operational Supports for Primary Schools for the Full Return to School.
More than 1700 schools with teaching principals have benefitted from the increase in release days. The annual cost of one release day per week to each school with a teaching principal is in the region of €16.6 million.
