Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 January 2026
1258. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether qualified secondary school teachers can do substitute work in primary schools; if individual primary schools have the right to refuse such qualified teachers substitute work solely on the grounds that they are qualified in secondary rather than primary education. [2198/26]
View answerThe recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012).
In accordance with Department Circular 44/2019 (primary sector) and Circular 31/2011 (post primary sector), which are available on the Department’s website at: www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-education/
Schools are required to employ appropriately qualified teachers and ensure that unemployed teachers should be offered employment in preference to those who have retired.
These measures were taken in an effort to increase employment opportunities for unemployed teachers.
The Teaching Council is the statutory body for the registration of teachers including the recognition of teaching qualifications.
Chapter 2 of Circular 44/2019 deals with the recruitment of teachers in recognised primary schools.
Section 3 of Chapter 2 of the circular sets out the qualification and registration requirements to be employed in primary schools.
Section 4 (4.1) of this chapter sets of the sequence for recruitment.
4.2 Where a substitute is required the employer must first seek to employ an appropriately qualified teacher who is not retired. This may be done by:
1. contacting a person on the substitute list established by the employer,
or 2. by using a national substitute service,
or 3. advertising.
The provisions of the circular do provide for the appointment of a teacher who is not appropriately qualified for the sector on a short term basis, giving preference wherever possible to one who is not retired. The circular provides that in such cases, the contract of employment should include a condition that the contract will terminate on the recruitment of an appropriately qualified teacher or the following 31 August, whichever happens first.
