Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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239. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a permanent national supply panel will be put in place for primary and special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48919/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the COVID-19 supports provided to schools in 2020, additional funding of €41.2 million was allocated to provide primary schools with substitute staff.

This funding allowed for the expansion of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panel from a pilot scheme consisting of 6 base schools to 132 Substitute Teacher Supply Panels nationwide, with almost 380 newly appointed Supply Panel teachers employed, providing substitute cover to over 2,500 schools across the country. Primary schools have been informed that the Supply Panel Scheme will continue for the 2021/22 school year.

The scheme provides more certainty on the availability of substitutes for primary schools and allows for substitutions that are not covered by existing schemes.