Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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20. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding certain subjects being taught by the one teacher across multiple schools further to recent reports; the subjects that are in particular demand; the teacher unions and representatives of teachers which have been consulted on these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10877/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The recently published scheme to share teachers between recognised post-primary schools is intended to provide schools with flexibility around the provision of certain subjects that are experiencing a supply shortage. The scheme, which is a result of work carried out by the Teacher Supply Steering Group, is expected to ease recruitment pressures in some specific subject areas such as STEM, modern languages, Irish, and home economics.

Addressing the supply issues is a matter of national priority for the Government and it is hoped that Principals and boards of management in schools will seize the opportunity to engage with other schools in their local areas.

The scheme has been developed with due consultation with education stakeholders, including post primary teacher unions. School management bodies and teacher unions have shown great commitment and cooperation in agreeing innovative solutions such as the teacher-sharing scheme. It is critical that all stakeholders to continue to engage with Department of Education initiatives in order to respond to the pressures facing our education system.