13th July 2023
Following strong representations made by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) in recent months, the Department of Education has today confirmed the restrictions on teachers undertaking substitute work under the terms of the Career Break and Job Share schemes will again be lifted for the entirety of the 2023/24 school year.
Circular 54/2019 limits teachers on career break to work as a substitute for 90 school days and under the same circular, teachers who are approved to job share may not undertake additional substitute work. Information Notes TC/IN 0006/2023 and 0007/2023, published today, temporarily lift these restrictions for the coming school year.
Both job-share teachers and those on career break should note that they may only take up work which is paid through the OLCS.
INTO General Secretary John Boyle said:
Although the INTO welcomes this early clarity being provided for members and employers, teacher supply is an acute and growing problem in primary schools, and the Department of Education must take long-term steps to alleviate this crisis. The terms of the Career Break scheme have been temporarily amended every year since the 2017/18 year due to ongoing teacher supply problems.
“The Department of Education must cease offering temporary solutions to what is becoming a permanent crisis in schools. Irish primary pupils deserve a qualified teacher in every classroom, every day.”