Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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399. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider extending the teaching hours extension scheme, which currently applies to post-primary schools, to include primary schools also; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37261/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the Teaching Hours Extension Scheme is to provide post-primary school

management with an alternative means of sourcing appropriately qualified substitute teaching cover to support teaching and learning in schools.

Due to the differences in the structure and operation of schools between primary level and post-primary level, it would not be possible to extend the Teaching Hours Extension scheme to primary schools.

At post-primary level, teachers can substitute for hours ,whereas primary school teachers substitute for a school day. Therefore, a primary school teacher on a full 25 hour contract would not be available to carry out additional substitution work.