Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

The Minister said that schools will be advised of this decision by Government. I raised this matter with her predecessor on 4 March and was told that a decision was imminent. When the Minister spoke to the teacher union conferences nine weeks ago she said limited alleviation will occur. Teachers in schools are either dealing with examinations or are on their summer holidays. Is the Minister seriously telling this House that she has no news for the schools on foot of this parliamentary question, when, effectively, such school authorities cannot make these appointments - even if it were possible for them to do so - on the basis that teachers have either broken for the summer or are on their summer holidays. I ask the Minister to directly answer this question: when will schools be informed of the limited alleviation to which she referred nine weeks ago? When will that happen?

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