Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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321. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the name of the circular that pertains to the leave granted-allowed to post-primary school teachers for duties on a county council; if she will provide the circular; and if, in the absence of a circular covering post primary teachers, she will provide a circular which includes post primary teachers. [22969/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Membership of Public Bodies Leave is available to post primary teachers who are members of public bodies such as county councils or statutory local bodies. However this leave is not a statutory entitlement. While the employer should take reasonable measures to facilitate the request, they must ensure the educational, welfare and care needs of students takes precedence.

The current rules in place allow for absences of up to ten school days in a school year. The absence applies only where meetings are held during school opening hours. It should be noted that this leave is only applicable where the staff member was required to attend meetings. Substitution cover is not paid for by the Department of Education.

The provisions of this leave type are not currently set out in a Department circular. The provisions of this leave type have been agreed with the Education Partners. It is intended that the Department will include this leave type in a future circular.