Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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402. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount saved by his Department in the past five years by not spending on substitute teachers in primary education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46683/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Substitute teachers are employed by the managerial authorities of schools to replace teachers absent on different types of approved leave such as sick leave and maternity leave.

The claims for the payment of substitute teachers are submitted by the individual managerial authorities of schools to my Department using the On Line Claim System.  The substitute teachers are paid on a fortnightly basis.  All substitute claims approved by the designated approver at school level are paid by my Department.

In 2016 my Department paid €114.5 million to substitute teachers employed in primary schools.

I announced measures recently to increase the pool of teachers available to schools, in particular to fill short term vacancies. With regard to these measures, my Department informed all teachers retiring in 2017 that in order to remain eligible for employment in a state funded teaching post for a period of more than five consecutive days or to supervise the State examinations, a teacher must maintain his/her registration with the Teaching Council. 

My Department has also increased to 90 days the limit on the number of days a primary teacher who is on career break can be employed in a school year. The matter of the employment of B Ed and PME students in limited circumstances on a short-term basis is still under consideration in my Department.