Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response and appreciate what she is saying about bringing the issue of substitution cover for local authority members when they are attending meetings to the Teachers Conciliation Council. Our local authority members have increasing workloads, however, and the Department needs to deal with this issue.I urge the Minister of State to bring this matter back to the senior Minister. I believe Department Circular 0032/2007 needs to be amended. I accept that it affects a small cohort of individuals. If we are to encourage people to enter politics, we should not put any barriers in their way. I ask the Minister of State to inquire in the Department as to whether the circular can be amended.