Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current position with regard to supervision and substitution for children with special needs who are attending the school mentioned.

As a result of the 2009 budget provisions for education, arising from current economic challenges and following subsequent proposals from the management bodies of primary schools, new arrangements are being put in place for substitution cover for uncertified sick leave for teachers in primary schools.

In primary schools there will be substitute cover for teachers on uncertified sick leave other than on the first day of absence. In a school where more than one teacher is absent on the first day of uncertified sick leave, substitute cover will be provided for the second and subsequent teachers who are absent. In schools with two or less teachers, cover will be provided where any classroom teacher is absent. Circular 0115/2008 outlining the full details has been posted on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

Substitution cover will continue to be provided for all other categories of absences currently available such as certified sick leave and maternity leave. In the period until the end of the school year, there will be a full review of the substitution and supervision scheme and related matters in conjunction with the school management bodies and teacher unions with a view to making up the additional expenditure and thereby ensuring the budgetary parameters are met.

As we manage through this difficult period, I ask teachers in all schools to co-operate fully with school managers in coping with this change in the interest of the students. I also request the school managerial bodies to ensure that the supervision and substitution scheme is operated with maximum effectiveness in all schools.

With regard to circumstances such as those mentioned by the Senator, a range of options are available to school principals. These include the temporary movement of teaching staff within schools to meet the needs of the special needs children concerned. I hope this clarifies the position for the Senator and I thank him once again for raising the matter with me.