Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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342. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers currently on secondment to other bodies. [58819/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently approximately 430 teachers on secondment for 2021/2022.

The Secondment Scheme for teachers is set out in Circular Letter 0029/2018. It provides an arrangement for an external organisation to meet a specialised human resource requirement through the temporary assignment of a teacher where that need cannot be effectively met through the normal appointment process.

Secondments can also be an important element of a teacher’s continuing professional development (CPD). They may also benefit schools and learners when the secondee returns to the school afterwards, enriched by the experience.

These arrangements provide flexibility and ensure that the needs and priorities of the service are met while also allowing for the career development of individual teachers.

My Department arranges for the secondment of teachers from their teaching posts for the purpose of developing and providing CPD for teachers and for the appointment as Directors of Education Support Centres (ESCs).

A number of specific measures have been taken to increase the pool of available substitute teachers. Teacher Education Support Services funded by the Department have been asked to release teachers who are on secondment to make themselves available to provide substitute cover in schools. Arrangements will made for available teachers from these services to register on Subseeker.ie, www.educationposts.ie/.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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343. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers currently on secondment to the Professional Development Service for Teachers, PDST, specifically. [58820/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) support service is funded by my Department and has responsibility for delivering continuous professional development (CPD) supports to teachers and school leaders in areas of curriculum and policy at Primary and Senior Cycle levels. The PDST team comprises seconded, practising teachers augmented by team leaders, local facilitators and associate trainers.

In response to the recent measures announced to increase the availability of substitute teachers, the Teacher Education support services funded by my Department have been asked to release teachers who are on secondment to make themselves available to provide substitute cover in schools. Arrangements are being made for available teachers from these support services, including PDST to register on the SubSeeker portal.

Planned CPD relating to reforms in Senior Cycle examinable subjects will continue. All other CPD at both Primary and Post Primary, where substitution is required, will be deferred until after the February 2022 mid-term break. It is intended that this deferred. CPD will be re-scheduled in the period following the February 2022 mid-term break.

The total number of teachers seconded to the PDST currently stand at 182. This figure includes 6 teachers in the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and 1 teacher in An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta (COGG).