Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 November 2025
462. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will address the issue whereby primary schools are unable to input casual substitute work undertaken by teachers who are on carer's leave into the on line claims system, and are instead required to use the more cumbersome sub for sub-timesheet process; if she will confirm that this anomaly will be rectified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65030/25]
View answer463. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that the requirement to use sub for sub-forms for teachers on carer's leave who undertake casual substitution places an additional administrative burden on schools, and may discourage schools from offering such teachers substitute work; and the steps she will take to remove this disincentive and ensure equitable access to substitute opportunities. [65031/25]
View answer464. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the online claims system will be updated to allow the input of substitute hours worked by teachers who are on carer's leave, in line with all other casual substitute teachers; and if she will provide a timeline for this update. [65032/25]
View answer465. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will address the issue whereby teachers on carer's leave who work as casual substitutes are not receiving payslips that include the school roll number and the specific dates worked; if she will confirm that this information will be added to their payslips; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65033/25]
View answer466. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures her Department will take to ensure that teachers on carer's leave who engage in casual substitute work are able to verify their payment details with the same accuracy and clarity as other substitute teachers, given the current absence of key information on their payslips; and if she will provide an update on improvements to the payroll system. [65034/25]
View answer467. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth the means by which her Department intends to ensure that substitute teachers who are on carer's leave are not placed at a disadvantage compared with other substitutes when it comes to payment processing, administrative requirements and transparency of pay information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65035/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 462, 463, 464, 465, 466 and 467 together.
The Payroll Division of my Department provides a payroll service to over 3,700 schools. In order to ensure prompt and efficient payment, the Payroll Division relies on the schools to submit information in a timely manner. The submission of information is done in a couple of ways, firstly via an Online claims system (OLCS), and also, by submitting information directly to my payroll division. A teacher who is availing of carers leave is considered to be “in service” and should the teacher work in a part-time capacity whilst on carers leave, the school is required to submit details for payment outside of the Online Claims System. Payment is prompt regardless of the method of transferring information to the Department. My department is currently upgrading its current payroll system and this will be rolled out on a phased basis to all four payrolls over the next two and a half years. A self-service module will be provided to teachers, and this will provide teachers with improved visibility regarding the schools submitting claims for payments and payments date.
