27th June 2025
Following representations made by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) in recent weeks, the Department of Education and Youth has confirmed that the restrictions on teachers undertaking substitute work while on career break or participating in the job share scheme will again be lifted for the course of the 2025/26 school year.
Under the terms of circular 54/2019, teachers who are job sharing may not undertake additional substitute work, and teachers on career break are limited to working as a substitute for a maximum of 90 school days.
Information notes TC/IN 0004/2025 (PDF) and TC/IN 0005/2025 (PDF), published today, temporarily remove these restrictions for the 2025/26 school year.
Both job share teachers and those on career break should note that they may only take up employment which is paid through the OLCS, namely providing substitute cover, New Entrant EAL hours and other available part-time hours.
In addition to the measures above the union had also been engaging with the Teaching Council on additional measures. The Council confirmed yesterday an extension to a timebound measure to enable primary NQTs employed on supply panels or in principal release time posts to complete the Droichead process for the 2025/2026 school year.
INTO General Secretary John Boyle said:
The union continues to engage with the DEY and other bodies and agencies in an effort to advance further measures to enhance teacher supply to ensure that all pupils are taught by a fully qualified teacher.