Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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238. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will fund a release day per week for teaching principals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48918/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the COVID-19 supports provided under The Roadmap for the Full Return to School, specific funding was provided to support Principals who undertake teaching duties in primary schools. This funding provides each teaching principal with a minimum of one release day per week so that each school with a teaching principal has 37 Principal Release Days.

Schools have been advised that, in the context of COVID-19, the additional allocation of Principal Release Days outlined in Circular 45/2020, "COVID-19 Operational Supports for the Full Return to School" will remain in place for the 2021/22 school year. The additional four release days allocated to schools with special classes, under Circular 19/2020, remains in place so that teaching principals of schools with a special class receive an allocation of 41 Principal Release Days.

As part of Budget 2022, my Department will be advancing proposals to further support schools.