623. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if permanent teachers on job share will continue to be permitted to take on substitute teaching, when they are otherwise available to work this year. [65925/26]

624. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department intends to lift the restriction on job-sharing teachers substituting during their non-working days for 2026/2027. [65929/26]

625. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth when teachers can expect a formal announcement on the restriction on job-sharing teachers substituting during their non-working days for 2026/2027. [65938/26]

626. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a decision has already been made on the restriction on job-sharing teachers substituting during their non-working days for 2026/2027; and if not, if it is currently being discussed with an organisation (details supplied). [65935/26]

627. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason qualified job-sharing teachers are being prevented from substituting in 2026/2027, that unqualified or not-yet-qualified people can be working in classrooms while qualified teachers who are available and willing to work are being excluded. [65943/26]

628. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is considering refusing the extension for job-sharing teachers substituting during their non-working days for 2026/2027; the justification for preventing qualified and experienced teachers from filling substitute vacancies at a time when schools need them. [65941/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 623, 624, 625, 626, 627 and 628 together.

The Job-Sharing Scheme for teachers is contained in Chapter 8 of the Department’s Circular Letter Circular 0054/2019 titled ‘Leave Schemes for Registered Teachers Employed in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools’. Paragraph 11.1(a) of the Job-Sharing Scheme states a teacher may not engage in any substitute teaching whilst job sharing.

In response to issues raised in relation to teacher supply, the restriction on engaging in substitute teaching, imposed in the Job-Sharing Scheme, has been suspended on a temporary basis over the last number of years.

Information Note TC/IN 0001/2026 has recently been published by my Department and provides for the extension of this temporary arrangement until the end of the 2026/27 school year.