Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

This week, many of this country's thousands of primary school teachers are giving up the first week of their summer holidays to do courses. Can the Leader ask the Minister for Education and Science to explain why the teachers will receive just three days of annual or personal leave in return for spending five days doing such courses? Will the Minister consider providing substitute cover while these teachers attend courses? Primary school teachers who take course days have the day off but their classes are split up among the rest of the school. It would not happen in any other profession. If, for example, a doctor is missing, a locum will replace him or her.

The substitute teacher option is also important for health and safety reasons with many classrooms already overcrowded. As a result, many teachers do not take the three course days to which they are entitled. In many rural schools, the children tend not to go to school on the day in question. That is, however, happening less because both parents may be working or single parents cannot keep their children at home. Will the Minister for Education and Science consider allowing teachers on day courses to put in a substitute for the days in question?