Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 July 2025
239. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will allow for special schools to receive a substitute teacher when a teacher takes self-certified sick leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36889/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s Circular Letter 0013/2024 details the agreed terms and conditions of the Sick Leave Scheme for primary and post primary teachers.
Regarding ‘Self-Certified Sick Leave’, the employer may appoint a substitute teacher paid by my Department, except for the first day of absence.
In a primary school with two or less mainstream teachers, the employer may appoint a substitute paid by my Department for the first day of a teacher’s absence on ‘Self-Certified Sick Leave’.
In any primary school, where two or more teachers are absent on the first day of ‘Self-Certified Sick Leave’, on the same day, the employer may appoint a substitute paid by my Department for the second and subsequent teachers.
In post primary schools, all ‘Self-Certified Sick Leave’ absences should be covered through the Supervision and Substitution Scheme as outlined in Circular 0006/2014: assets.gov.ie/13371/8d86870803ae4d92bc4363f209ccf13a.pdf#page=null
Any changes to the current substitution provision available to teachers would widen the scope of the current leave schemes in place and would be considered cost-increasing in nature.
The Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC) forms part of the Scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration for Teachers, the purpose of which is to provide a forum for claims and proposals relating to the salary, and other terms and conditions of service for teachers. The Council is comprised of representatives from the Teacher Unions, the School Management Bodies, the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and the Department of Education and Youth. The TCC is independently chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission.
It is currently not intended to amend the existing provisions covering 'Self-Certified Sick Leave'.
