Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the withdrawal of funding in respect of substitute teachers to cover for uncertified sick leave or absences on school business; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this will have negative consequences for the supervision of extra curricular activities in schools and that teachers and principals will be further over-stretched with their duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38019/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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In making the announcement of the Budget measures for education I stressed that tough choices had to be made in meeting the needs of the education sector in these difficult times. The resources available to the Department have meant that these choices have been very challenging.

Since 2003, when the supervision/substitution scheme was introduced and the range of absences for which substitution cover was provided was extended to cover uncertified sick leave and official school business, we have significantly increased expenditure on substitution and the supervision / substitution scheme. This expenditure increase has taken place for a range of reasons including the extension of maternity leave, the implementation of the terms of legislation in relation to part-time employment and increases in teacher numbers. Expenditure on the substitution scheme at primary level has increased from €26.3 million in 2003 to a projected cost of €84.4 million in the current financial year. The projected cost of substitution in secondary and community/comprehensive schools in the current financial year is €66.9 million and €38 million for schools under the control of Vocational Education Committees.

Substitution cover will continue to be provided for all other categories of absences for which it is currently available including maternity leave and certified sick leave. The existing arrangement will continue to apply for the supervision/substitution scheme with teachers continuing to be paid an annual payment of €1,789 for participation in the scheme.

I am aware that from January the changes regarding substitution will present particular challenges for school managers but I felt that suspending part of the improvements made in 2003 to the substitution scheme was preferable to impacting more significantly on teacher numbers.

Prior to 2003 schools managed without any of this provision and this did not impede on their capacity to participate for example in football and other sports competitions.

I fully accept this was possible through flexibility and goodwill all round. As we manage through this difficult period I am asking teachers in all schools to co-operate fully with school managers in coping with this change in the interest of the students.