John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 481: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the withdrawal of substitute cover for teachers on uncertified sick leave will have particularly acute consequences for small schools in view of the fact that such schools neither will have another teacher available nor will be in a position to split classes; if he will exempt such schools from this measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43759/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Notwithstanding the increase of €302 million in the Education budget for 2009, 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. The decision made to suspend the substitution cover for uncertified sick leave in primary and second level schools was a difficult one.

The supervision / substitution scheme will continue to operate without any changes and teachers who agree to participate will continue to receive an annual payment of €1,789 in addition to their normal salary.

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.

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. I am also requesting the school managerial bodies to ensure that the supervision / substitution scheme is operated with maximum effectiveness in all schools.