Big fall in teacher sick leave saves State €25m
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The number of uncertified sick days taken by teachers has dropped by as much as 38pc since changes were introduced to the substitution scheme.
It has led to savings of around €25m for the Department of Education which, since last January, has restricted the funding available to schools for replacing teachers who are absent.
Uncertified sick leave among primary teachers has decreased by 28pc and it has fallen by 38pc in secondary schools and VECs. And there has only been a "marginal increase" in certified sick leave.
TDs questioned why the sick leave had plummeted since the introduction of changes to the €136m Supervision and Substitution Scheme .
Department of Education secretary general Brigid McManus agreed that the drop might raise questions.
But she said it was possible that some teachers were now making an extra effort to come in to reduce the pressure on their school, which would not be able to obtain a substitute.
Previously, schools were automatically supplied with a substitute whenever any of their teachers were absent.
The changes meant that schools were no longer given substitution cover for the first day of uncertified sick leave and for teachers on official school business.
The €25m saved includes a €9.5m saving on uncertified sick leave in secondary schools and VECs, as well as a €5.5m in primary schools. But the biggest saving of €13m came from not providing substitutes.
- Michael Brennan Political Correspondent
Irish Independent
