Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2021
136. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education if she will reintroduce the policy in which schools could bank substitution hours for days when school staff, such as special education or resource teachers, have to cover for class teachers due to the inability to source an external substitute; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54815/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartment Circulars 0044/2019 and 31/2011 set out the sequence of recruitment for substitute appointments, which include contacting a person on the substitute list established by the employer, or by using a national substitute service such as SubSeeker, or advertising. As a measure of last resort, and in the context of the uncertainty surrounding Covid-19 related absences, schools were permitted to use non-mainstream class teachers last year to provide cover for teacher absences. Due to the successful roll out of the vaccination programme and changes to the rules around close contacts and the requirements to restrict movements, teacher absences due to Covid-19 should be reduced this year.
My Department has engaged with the education stakeholders on the issues raised about the current difficulty in accessing substitutes for teacher absences. Among other measures, a review of the supply panels has taken place and approximately 100 additional teachers are being added to existing/new areas where significant challenges have been demonstrated in sourcing substitution. Engagement is taking place with the base schools to make arrangements for the recruitment of additional staff immediately.
In addition to the expansion of the supply panels, schools have been asked to combine their allocation of principal release days into clusters so as to form a full-time fixed-term post to cover each school principal’s release days
Restrictions for job-sharing teachers undertaking substitution, have been temporarily suspended which allows these teachers to work additional days if available to cover vacancies in their own and other schools. Likewise, teachers on career break can carry out substitute work without restriction in the current school year.
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have been requested to be flexible with the student teachers to facilitate student teachers being available for substitution work. HEIs have also been requested to communicate with post primary PME students to advise them of the availability of substitution in primary schools.
The Teaching Council have been asked to undertake a communications campaign to contact the 111,000 teachers on the teaching register to urge them to make themselves available for substitution.
Teachers who may be available to undertake substitution work have been asked to register on SubSeeker.ie so that schools are aware of their availability when seeking to fill substitute vacancies.
My Department will continue to keep this matter under review in collaboration with the education stakeholders.
