Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I am replying on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, Minister for Education and Science. I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House the Department's position on extra personal vacation days. EPV days are days in lieu granted to primary teachers for time spent attending an approved professional development course during the months of July and August. The principal aim of the summer course programme is to provide quality professional development courses in curricular areas or other relevant aspects relating to primary education.

Every summer up to 600 courses, catering for approximately 20,000 teachers, are organised in Ireland. The majority of teachers are entitled to three EPV days during the following school year. Substitute cover is not available for EPV days. Since the early 1990s the parameters surrounding the current programme have been the subject of ongoing review to ensure its relevance to the work of primary schools and its effectiveness, given that absence from school on EPV days can result in considerable disruption to the day-to-day management of schools. The most significant development has been the establishment of criteria and an applications process which is rigorously implemented. Applications are assessed by primary inspectors who also monitor and report on up to 10% of courses each year. Over the years, exceptions were made and EPV days were granted for other purposes, including attendance at language or professional development courses abroad and voluntary work, either teaching or working in hospitals or orphanages in Africa or India.

With regard to the awarding of EPV for experience abroad during the summer months, a distinction has now been made between professional development courses and voluntary work. The voluntary work which teachers engage in during the summer is, of course, to be lauded and the generosity of Irish teachers in giving of their time to such work is acknowledged. While this work may contribute to the development of teachers' knowledge, skills and cultural experiences, the nature of the work or experience can vary considerably. For this reason, the decision was taken to discontinue the granting of EPV in all circumstances except those where the criteria obtaining for the approval of a course in Ireland can largely be met.

The main aim of this realignment is to ensure that teachers who benefit from EPV days, which are granted without substitution cover, are actually involved in professional development courses which are organised in accordance with defined criteria. An essential element of the current process is the degree to which the course is directly related to the teacher's work in the school. While the changes to the granting of EPV days to teachers have just been published and will come into effect for 2009, it is intended to keep them under review.