IPPN

Published: 08 September 2022

There is growing evidence of a shortage of substitutes in primary schools. Unfortunately, many substitute panels have not filled and are unable to supply their schools. Schools turn to Sub Seeker as their first port of call. Sub Seeker is a service within EducationPosts.ie that facilitates the short-term recruitment of Teaching Council-registered teachers or any teacher with a registered Teaching Council number (including Routes 3, 4 and 5). During COVID times, the Department introduced some temporary measures to aid the supply of teachers for substitute work. Circulars and Information Notes covered these temporary measures. However, only some are still operational.

Job-Sharing Teachers/SNAs
A Job Sharing teacher may be employed to work in a substitute capacity in any school, during the period they are rostered off duty. (Info Note 0007-2022). Job Sharing SNAs are no longer being allowed to provide substitute cover as per DE Circular 0038/2022.

Career Break Teachers
In circular 38/2022 published in June 2022, the Department of Education confirmed that the limit of 90 days would be in place for 2022/23. Teachers on career break are restricted to substitute work only.

Student Teachers
3rd and 4th year undergraduate student teachers were registered by the Teaching Council under Route 5 and allowed to teach for more than the ‘5 day rule’. Please note that this temporary amendment to statute was strictly time limited, as its effect was from 15 February 2022 and expired on 30 June 2022. Circular 0016/2022 confirms that all exemptions for these student teachers on the ‘five day rule’ ended on 30 June 2022. Post-graduate student teachers who are registered with the TC using their primary degree are exempt from ‘5 day rule’.

Retired Teachers
There is no limit set to the amount of substitute/fixed term work a teacher can undertake after retirement. However, there is a restriction on the amount of salary a teacher can earn without it impacting on his/her pension. Throughout the public service, the principle of abatement applies. This principle ensures that combined earnings from the DES from pension and substitute/fixed term work cannot exceed the teacher’s pre-retirement salary. The DE introduced a waiver in Circular 3/2021, which states that abatement shall not apply to the salary of a teacher working up to 50 days in a calendar year. After this limit, abatement of salary may apply should the teacher’s pension, added to their annualised substitute/Fixed Term salary exceed their pre-retirement salary. Please note that, as of yet, IPPN is not aware that any such waiver has been issued for the current school year. It would not be the duty of the principal to clarify this. Rather the retired teacher himself or herself would need to contact the DE.

Unregistered Persons
The ‘5 day rule’ remains in place for the employment of all other unregistered persons as per S.I. No. 32 of 2014.