Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020
460. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education her plans to establish a supply teacher panel for the south-west Cork areas; her further plans for teacher absences for the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25200/20]
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 110 base schools, providing substitute cover to over 2,100 schools across the country.
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.
Eleven Supply Panel clusters have been established in Co. Cork, including one in Bantry, which cover more than 200 schools across the county.
