Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 401: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science the alternative arrangements that will be put in place for substitute cover in County Monaghan in view of the decision by her Department to discontinue the teacher supply panel scheme which up to now provided substitute cover for 12 local schools in that county. [13812/10]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 427: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science if she will review her decision to discontinue the teacher supply panel scheme which provides substitute cover for 12 local schools in County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13811/10]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 428: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science her views on whether the decision to discontinue the teacher supply panel in County Monaghan will cause undue hardship for schools, in view of the fact that principals will now be forced to search for their own substitute teacher at short notice, verify qualifications and introduce them to their school instead of just simply contacting the supply panel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13813/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 401, 427 and 428 together.

The supply teacher scheme was initially set up at primary level over 15 years ago at a time when schools had difficulty getting substitute teachers. The supply scheme operates on the basis of an additional full-time teacher being allocated to a school to cover certified sick leave absences in that school and a cluster of neighbouring schools. If the teacher is not required on a given day to cover sick leave absences they generally assist with other work in their school such as administrative duties. There are 60 posts allocated to the scheme.

A value for money review of the Supply Teacher Scheme was published in July 2006. The review found that approximately 60% of these teachers' time was used to cover sick leave absences with the balance on various other school duties. This reflects the unpredictable nature of sick leave absences.

While there are benefits for schools in having these full-time teachers it is considered more cost effective to use the normal substitution arrangements that apply to all other schools to cover sick leave absences instead of having a cohort of full-time teachers ''on call'' all the time in these schools to cover sick leave absences that may or may not arise.

The supply teacher scheme will cease from the start of the 2010/11 school year. The teachers concerned will be redeployed in accordance with the existing redeployment arrangements to other schools that have vacancies.

Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give the full details sought by the Deputy.