Laura Harmon (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. It is welcome that this scheme will be reviewed, as has been promised, in 2025. We await that. It is very important that the unions and the teachers themselves are consulted as part of this. I know this is on the radar of Fórsa, representatives of which I will meet in the next week, and of the INTO. As regards the case I outlined of Sophie Cole and those of many others, six months is certainly not enough. We need to review and extend that. We certainly need to look at how we communicate this to those working in our classrooms in order that they are aware of it and know what their entitlements are. There is a clear lack of awareness of rights in this regard.

We look forward to further engagement, and I really hope the Minister, Helen McEntee, will engage as well on this issue.