Shane Ross (Independent)
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I have been approached by a constituent who has availed of extra personal vacation, EPV, days abroad and is faced with the prospect of no longer being allowed to avail of them. The Minister of State will be well aware of the purpose of EPV days, which is to give teachers the chance to attend courses in order to gain skills which can then be used for educational benefit. Teachers can go back to school with an additional string to their bow or further education of some sort, which can then be of benefit to the pupils they teach. It seems the priorities of the Government in terms of overseas aid or helping people overseas are being downgraded. I will not comment, because I do not think it is appropriate in this debate, on the decision to reduce overseas aid in the package announced on Tuesday. This decision to remove qualification for EPV days from teachers engaged in voluntary work abroad is consistent with the decision on overseas aid. It means the Government has downgraded its commitment to those who are under-privileged and under-educated overseas. That is deeply regrettable. This country has a proud record not only in terms of overseas aid but also in acknowledging it in other ways, such as this system for teachers going overseas. My understanding is that it has been removed from not just the approved list but also the unapproved list.

The constituent to whom I spoke, who has been to Uganda and used the EPV days, said the experience was invaluable. Several of her friends who are also teachers had also used the privilege of EPV days on their return to Ireland. She said it had been invaluable to both her and her pupils. It is a situation where both sides win. The pupils in this country gain advantage from the extra knowledge the teacher has gained while pupils in Uganda gain some education and benefit from the teacher going to that country.

I cannot understand why this item has been removed from the list. It is a well trodden course by several teachers. The Minister can correct me if I am wrong but I understand that 200 teachers availed of EPV days in 2008 and 69 used them for voluntary work abroad. This cut will affect the large number of people who used them in the past. I appeal to the Minister to review this apparent withdrawal so all the parties involved can benefit.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Shane Ross (Independent)
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I am gobsmacked by the Minister's reply. I do not understand the reason that this course has been discontinued. The only reason given is that the "nature of the work or experience can vary considerably". What does that mean? Does it mean some of it is good and some of it is bad? Will the Minister expand on the reply? What is the reason for it being discontinued? The only reason given in the reply is the one I mentioned. Does that mean some of the experiences are not as good as others? If that is the case, let us retain the good ones and eliminate the bad ones. There is no reason given in the speech for the discontinuation of the allowance of EPV days.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister intends to keep this decision under review. From my experience in the Department, the decision was also taken in the context of the need to cut back on expenditure across the board.

Shane Ross (Independent)
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That would have been a more honest answer.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will refer the Senator's more specific question to the Minister.

Shane Ross (Independent)
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Will the Minister of State ask the Minister to send me a reply by letter?

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will.

Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)
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Is the Senator happy with that?

Shane Ross (Independent)
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No, but I am as happy as I can be.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I replied to the best of my ability.