Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Paul Crone, director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, said today that many secondary schools are struggling to find enough teachers to provide cover. Schools will, of course, prioritise to provide the maximum cover for leaving certificate students, but teacher shortages can impact all students, leaving certificate students included. I am aware the Minister brought in a package of emergency measures to provide cover earlier. However, will she continue to maintain visits to schools by school inspectors? If so, why, in the middle of a crisis such as this, would she continue to use fully-qualified teachers for such a role? Does she propose to keep them in that role or will she deploy them to provide the cover so desperately needed in schools?

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