Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I fully agree with both Deputies who have raised this matter. Circular 31/2011 arose after my visit to the teaching conferences in the preceding Easter. It was clear, given the strength of feeling, that this was a major issue in both primary and secondary levels. If the circular is not having the intended effect, I will take on board some of the suggestions Deputy McConalogue has made and the process will be made more stringent. I will be told, of course, that if I do make it extremely stringent, I will end up with some schools being unable to get a teacher at short notice. However, I believe both Deputies are referring to contracts to cover maternity leave and so on and not the one-off substitution to cover someone who telephones in sick.

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