Nipping Protest in the Bud?

Batt O Keeffe announced a €2.7 million fund for education subsitution to cover schools in certain areas until year-end. Batt O’Keefe says an extra 2.7 million euro will pay for a limited number of substitution hours – to facilitate school activities.

Teachers had raised concerns that sports activities and school trips would have to be cancelled because of cutbacks to the substitution budget. It is in no way realted to tomorrows rally.

The rally will assemble in Parnell Square from 12 midday and move off at 1pm to Merrion Square.

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This year’s substitution bill is EUR183m, a third of which goes on maternity and related leave, while less than a 10th is uncertified sick leave.

The figures also show that the cost of uncertified sick leave is EUR17m compared with EUR45m for certified sick leave.

From January, the Department of Education and Science will no longer provide paid substitution for uncertified sick leave. Nor will it provide for substitution for teachers absent on official school business which currently costs EUR13m.