Up to 90 schools in six areas in Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Cork and Galway targeted under a new initiative to ease supply pressure for substitute vacancies at primary level.

Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. has today (Thursday 26 September) announced six panels to be created around the country to help answer demand for substitute teachers.

As part of the pilot programme up to 18 teachers will be hired on full-time contracts to work across school clusters in north and south Dublin, Co Kildare, Co Meath, Cork city and Co Galway.

It is intended that around 15 schools will be in each cluster with up to 90 schools benefitting from the initiative.

Minister McHugh first called for the creation of supply panels at the annual conference of the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) last January.

“My ambition to see substitute teacher supply panels set up on a regional basis was in direct response to the staffing difficulties I’ve heard about from teachers, principals and management bodies in primary schools,” the Minister said.

“It is about trying to find clever and efficient ways of giving a qualified teacher security of work and ensuring they fill as many vacancies across a number of schools. It is possible now thanks to better use of simple technology which allows schools to work more closely and respond immediately.”

The supply panels focus on Dublin, Galway and Cork and the commuter belts in Kildare and Meath.

The areas were selected based on data which demonstrates they have the highest levels of unmet substitute cover in the country.

Minister McHugh said: “I want to thank the principals and the schools for taking on the role of the base school. Their role will be key to its success.”

The six base schools for the panels are: