Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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270. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when teacher supply panels will be introduced. [6805/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Management bodies and schools have, in recent years, reported difficulties in recruiting teachers. At primary level this relates mainly to the recruitment of substitute teachers and at post-primary level to the recruitment of teachers of particular subjects (e.g. STEM, modern foreign languages, Irish and Home Economics).

In response to these difficulties, the Teacher Supply Steering Group was established in March of last year and the Group is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department.

The Steering Group is considering the issues that impact on 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 overseeing the implementation of the Action Plan for Teacher Supply, which was published in November 2018. Following from the Action Plan, the Department is undertaking an analysis of the potential for a supply panel scheme for primary schools.