Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the five-day limitation on substitute teaching for final year primary school teaching students will be removed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20865/21]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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85. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has considered removing the five-day rule for substitute teachers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20934/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the consultation that has taken place with schools and staff representatives on the potential for reviewing the five day rule for student teachers taking up substitute positions whilst ensuring protection of fully qualified positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20979/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 73, 85 and 88 together.

The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012).

In accordance with Department Circular 44/2019 and the Terms and Conditions of Employment for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools web book which are available on the Department’s website under www.education.ie, schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers. These also detail a cascade of measures for the recruitment of teachers, prioritising registered teachers over unregistered people.

Other than the limited exceptions under Ministerial Regulations, (S.I. No.32/2014, Education Act 1998 (Unregistered Persons) Regulations 2014), payment is prohibited from Oireachtas funds to people employed as teachers in recognised schools unless they are registered with the Teaching Council.

A number of measures are already in place to support the supply of substitute teachers to schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include the establishment of primary school supply panels nationwide, the relaxation of the rules governing career breaks and job sharing which facilitates teachers on career break to sub and job-sharers to take up additional hours as subs.

In addition, the Teaching Council is communicating with Professional Master of Education (PME) students, via the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), to encourage them to register with the Council and register also their availability with Sub Seeker,the recruitment portal which matches available teachers with substitutable vacancies.

At this time, the Department is engaging with education partners to ensure that any challenges with regard to filling substitutable vacancies are highlighted. If further measures are required my Department will of course engage with the relevant stakeholders to explore and consider other solutions.