Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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174. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to concerns regarding the difficulties faced by primary schools in hiring qualified substitute teachers to cover teacher absences as expressed by parents, teachers and school management bodies; the steps he is taking to deal with the difficulties; his plans to establish a number of panels of substitute teachers even on a pilot basis in a number of areas initially in order to give schools and children certainty regarding continuity of education at times of teacher absence; his further plans to include north County Wicklow, in which difficulties in employing substitute teachers are indicated in the coverage of a substitute teacher panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37079/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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In the last two years we have hired 5,000 additional new teachers. It is the case that many teachers who would have been available to carry out substitution work are now gaining permanent and long term contracts.

I am aware of reports that some schools are experiencing difficulties in finding substitute teachers. In order to ease the situation, in the last school year I suspended the limits that teachers on career break can work as substitutes. Schools were also reminded that, in considering career break applications, the needs of pupils should take precedence and they must take account of the availability of appropriate qualified replacement teachers.

As the Deputy is aware, earlier this year I established the Teacher Supply Steering Group, which is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department. The Group is considering the issues that relate to teacher supply, including: initial teacher education policy, provision, funding and support; data/research requirements; policies and arrangements for schools and teachers that impact on teacher mobility/supply; and promotion of the teaching profession.

The Steering Group is supported by a number of working groups which are looking in more detail at the issues under these broad headings. The matter of supply panels is part of that consideration. In addition, officials of my Department are engaging directly with the teacher unions. As part of that engagement, the supply panel issue was the subject of an initial discussion with INTO and it is intended to have a follow up meeting on the matter with the union in the near future.