Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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222. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has considered providing substitute teachers to cover for full-time teachers who are also members of county councils and need to attend important events and meetings during the school day on behalf of their area. [36170/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The cost of substitution for primary and post primary teachers in voluntary secondary and community/comprehensive schools in 2015 was one hundred and seventy two million. This is very significant expenditure in the context of the overall budget of the Department and the numerous demands for additional expenditure that are arising.

The allocation of additional funding to provide substitute teachers for the reasons outlined by the Deputy is not a priority for my Department.