Substitution

Last updated: Tue, Jul 25th, 2017 11:17:54 am

The school authorities may employ substitute teachers where teachers are absent in the following circumstances:

  • Unpaid leave

  • Certified sick leave

  • The full period of paid or unpaid maternity/adoptive leave in accordance with Department of Education and Skills regulations

  • Paid or unpaid family leave in accordance with Department of Education and Skills regulations

  • Jury service

  • Membership of the Teaching Council

  • Membership of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment

  • Membership of course committees established by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment

  • Conduct of State Examination Commission oral and practical examinations and/or assessments

  • State examination conferences organised by the State Examination Commission

  • Full period of parental leave

Substitute teachers who are employed in these circumstances fall into three distinct categories:

Non-Casual Part-Time teacher

A Non-Casual Part-Time teacher is a part-time teacher who:

  • Is a qualified teacher and

  • Is employed for more than 150 hours in the year (e.g. maternity leave, long term illness).

Casual Part-Time teacher

A Casual Part-Time teacher is a part-time teacher who:

  • Is a qualified teacher and

  • Is employed for 150 hours or less during the school year (covering a sick leave absence).

Unqualified part-time teacher

An Unqualified Part-Time teacher is a part-time registered teacher who is employed in the absence of a suitable qualified teacher and who is not properly qualified in the subject area for which he/she is employed. In exceptional circumstances as set out in Appendix A of CL 52/2013  unregistered teachers may be appointed for short periods and may be remunerated at unqualified teacher rates. 

School management may employ existing RPT teachers to substitute for absent colleagues provided that the hours worked by any individual do not exceed 22 hours in a week.

When engaging a substitute teacher for a period of 24 weeks or more in a given year Boards of Management are required to advertise the post and make an appointment in accordance with the normal procedures for the appointment of teachers. For periods of less than 24 weeks, while it is advisable to follow the same procedure whenever possible, substitutes may be appointed from a panel of available qualified teachers properly registered with the teaching Council or from a list of such teachers supplied by an agency. It is advisable, however, that the Board of Management should put in place an appropriate form of selection process to be used in such circumstances.

It is not permissible to engage, as a substitute teacher, a person who is already in receipt of incremental salary as a teacher. A teacher on Career Break may not be engaged as a substitute teacher except on a casual basis for a maximum of 150 hours in a school year. Teachers absent on Parental Leave may not engage in any type of teaching.

See Edition 2 of Web Book regarding Terms and Conditions for Registered Teachers published 27 June 2017.