Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 599: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will reconsider his decision not to provide substitute cover for the first day of uncertified sick leave in respect of special needs teachers in view of the particular difficulties that this is causing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4349/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As a result of the 2009 Budget provisions for Education, arising from current economic challenges, and following subsequent proposals from the management bodies of primary schools, new arrangements were put in place for substitution cover for uncertified sick leave for teachers in primary schools.

The new arrangements became effective from the 1st January 2009 and will remain in place for the remainder of the 2008/2009 school year.

Under these arrangements the general rule is that substitute cover is not provided for the first day of an absence of a teacher on uncertified sick leave in a school.

There are two exceptions to this general rule. The first is that substitute cover is provided for the first day of an absence of a teacher on uncertified sick leave in schools with two or less classroom teachers.

The second is that in the event that two or more teachers in a school are absent from teaching duty on the first day of uncertified sick leave, substitute cover is provided for the second and subsequent teachers that are absent.

The existing arrangements for substitute cover for other absences of teachers from teaching duty continue to apply.

In the period until the end of the school year, there will be a full review of the substitution and supervision scheme and related matters in conjunction with the school management bodies and teacher unions with a view to making up the additional expenditure and thereby ensuring that the budgetary parameters are met.