Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 262: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the discussions which have taken place between her Department and the Irish National Teachers' Organisation regarding the teacher supply panel and the progress made in retaining this service. [27426/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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There has been ongoing engagement and discussion with the relevant education partners, including the INTO, involving my Department concerning general education matters and specific budgetary matters.In relation to the supply teacher scheme a decision was taken in Budget 2010 to cease this scheme from the start of the 2010/11 school year. It is expected that this measure will save €0.4m in 2010 and €1.1m in a full year. The Deputy will be aware of the need to continue to achieve savings on the public finances so the scope is not there to retain the scheme. The teachers concerned will be redeployed in accordance with the existing redeployment arrangements to other schools that have vacancies.

While the supply teacher scheme had benefits for schools 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.