Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 396: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science if she has plans to review the abolition of supply panels in view of their importance in areas of disadvantage and the likely negative knock-on effects for what is a small investment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16663/10]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 400: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science if she will reconsider the decision to abolish the supply panel based in a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16720/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 396 and 400 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.