Róisín Garvey (Green Party)
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However, the Teaching Council is struggling to provide the teachers. The Teaching Council is trying to support the teachers. I know teachers pay well to be a member of the Teaching Council. It is blatant to everybody on the committee that there is a major issue with providing teachers for July provision. Is anybody in the Teaching Council looking at alternatives? We know that teaching is now more difficult than ever. The number of teachers available is reducing every year as teaching becomes more stressful. As we move forward, it is less likely that teachers will be available in July and August when they need that time off. They usually spend a week or two in July wrapping up after teaching for the school year and a week or two in August preparing to go back teaching. It is not realistic for the Teaching Council to think that they will be the ones sorting this issue out. It does not seem to make sense.

In order for someone to teach, it is necessary to register with the Teaching Council. That is great and it is good that we have a system in place. However, the teachers are crying out for support on this and they feel bad that they cannot do the July provision. They would like the children to get the support because most teachers are really dedicated to their pupils. Is it not time for the Teaching Council to have a really frank conversation? The Teaching Council may be pushing the notion that people other than qualified teachers may be able to do the July provision? Does Ms Fox have any opinion on that?