Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 January 2026
1270. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider covering the costs of a substitute teacher from the first day of a teacher’s absence, particularly in the case of a special class or special school teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2406/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Education and Youth publishes on the department’s website the agreed terms and conditions for the main leave types currently available to teachers, including the provision for substitute cover. The department’s Circular Letter 0033/2013, circulars.gov.ie/pdf/circular/education/2013/33.pdf, permits a primary school to utilise their Supervision Hours to cover absences including, all uncertified sick leave absences, and the first day of Force Majeure Leave and Illness in Family Leave.
As stated in Circular Letter 0054/2019, each employer should have a policy on teacher absences, specific to the needs of their school. The welfare and educational needs of the pupils must take precedence over all other considerations and have due regard to the capacity of the school to meet its obligations to its pupils. Individual employers may therefore have to apply a limit to the number of teaching staff that may avail of non-statutory leave (e.g. Career Break, Job-Sharing) at any one time. An employer must take into account the availability of an appropriately qualified replacement teacher when making a decision on a teacher’s leave application.
Under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998, the Minister for Education and Youth, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, is authorised to determine the terms and conditions of employment for teachers employed in approved teaching posts funded by monies provided by the Oireachtas.
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 & 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.
