Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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874.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if school-based speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and psychologists are part of the local CHO-sanctioned posts, or are in addition to those; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33704/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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CHO sanctioned posts are a matter for the HSE and the Department of Health and do not fall under the remit of my Department.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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875.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of unqualified teachers employed in schools at both primary and second level in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33705/24]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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876.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of substitute days in primary and secondary schools that were not filled in the 2023-24 school year; the resulting total amount of unpaid salary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33706/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 875 and 876 together.

The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for individual school authorities, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In that regard, there are more than 3,700 individual employers (boards of management of primary schools and post-primary schools, as well as ETBs).

In circumstances where teaching posts are unfilled for a period of time, or where a vacancy arises in a school due to a teacher taking leave, such vacancies may be filled by substitute teachers, on either a casual or non-casual contract basis.

Substitutable leave absences may be filled by schools in several ways. A substitute teacher may be recruited locally by a school, and a claim for payment for the teacher may be submitted to my Department, via the Online Claims System. Alternatively, the absence may be covered by schools under a number of schemes, which are managed locally by schools.

My Department cannot provide exact figures or costs for unfilled vacancies or substitutable absences as many absences are managed directly by schools without the need to notify the Department. Consequently, definitive data on vacancies covered by unregistered persons during any given period is also unavailable.

The Supervision and Substitution Scheme allows for the supervision of students during breaks and before and after school and allows for substitution to cover certain categories of teacher absences. With effect from the beginning of the 2013/14 school year, participation in the Supervision and Substitution scheme is compulsory for teachers, save for those who had availed of the opt-out arrangements before this date.

All schools therefore provide cover for a significant number of substitutable absences, arising over the school year, through the Supervision and Substitution scheme.

For primary schools, substitute teacher supply panels are also in place. For the 2023/24 school year, 590 substitute teacher supply posts have been allocated to 166 panels, covering nearly 2,900 schools. This scheme provides substitute cover for teachers employed in primary schools who are absent on short-term leave. Absences covered by the teacher supply panels are recorded locally by the schools and the schools are not required to claim for the substitutable leave to my Department.

For post-primary schools, Circular 0035/2023 provides for a Teaching Hours Extension scheme to be in place for the 2023/24 school year. This scheme provides post-primary schools with an alternative means of sourcing appropriately qualified substitute teaching cover to support teaching and learning in schools. Teachers on full teaching contracts of 22 hours can provide additional substitution cover, of up to 35 additional hours, for each term designated under the scheme. Absences covered under this scheme are also recorded locally by the schools and the schools are not required to claim for the substitutable leaves covered by this scheme to my Department.

Ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Government.

Budget 2024 contains a range of measures that demonstrate my commitment to continued investment in our education system.

• Introduction of a professional master of education refund scheme for newly qualified teachers graduating in 2024. Eligible teachers can receive a payment of up to €2,000, to be paid in 2025.
• Expansion of upskilling programs, free to teachers, aimed at increasing the number of qualified teachers in high-demand subjects and reducing out-of-field teaching. New programs in Irish, French, politics & society, and computer science will complement existing programs in maths, physics, and Spanish. Trinity College Dublin will deliver a new Irish upskilling program for post-primary teachers starting in late 2024, available at no cost to eligible teachers.
• Provision of an additional 1,000 posts of responsibility in the school system for the 2024/25 school year, recognising the vital role of school leaders in enhancing educational outcomes by fostering a positive school environment and empowering educators and learners within their communities.

• Approving 610 additional places on initial teacher education programs for primary level over the academic years 2023/24 and 2024/25.
• Ensuring initial teacher education providers created existing flexibilities that enable student teachers to support schools, either while on placement, or in a substitute capacity.
• Restrictions on job-sharing teachers and those on a career break from working as substitutes have been reduced.
• The Teaching Transforms campaign continues to promote the teaching profession encouraging students to follow a career in teaching. The campaign uses digital, radio and video media, and is supported by a dedicated webpage, www.gov.ie/teachingtransforms.

• CAO first preference choices for post-primary teaching increased in 2023 by 14%, in addition to a 9% increase in 2022. CAO preferences for primary teaching showed increases at the closing date in February 2024 with overall mentions up 10% and first preferences increasing by 2% from 2023.
• In 2024, there were 4,271 first preference applications for undergraduate teaching programmes, showing a trend largely consistent with recent years.
• The new pay deal, with all three teacher unions having recently voted in favour of, will mean that teachers’ starting salary will increase to €46,000 rising to a maximum of €85,000 per year which compares well internationally. Starting pay of €46,000 will be almost €20,000 higher than the 2011 rates.
• Over 3,700 newly qualified teachers have registered with the Teaching Council in 2023, with over 122,000 now on the Teaching Council register.