Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

Since 2003, when those improvements for substitution cover were first introduced, we have spent dramatically more on substitution. Much of that additional spending will be retained with the 37 hour supervision scheme being maintained.

I am aware that from January the changes regarding substitution will present particular challenges for school managers but we felt that suspending part of the improvements made in 2003 was preferable to impacting more significantly on teacher numbers.

The point must be made that paid substitute cover for uncertified sick leave in all schools and for school business at second level was only introduced in 2003. This is in addition to a new payment of €1,789 to teachers to provide supervision and substitution cover that they previously provided without payment.

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