Written 6 hours ago by Newsroom

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A Westmeath school principal is calling for the introduction of new plans to address a shortage of substitute teachers.

Matt Melvin of Saint Etchen’s National School in Kinnegad, says he couldn’t find any replacements for two staff members yesterday within a 75 kilometre radius.

A new survey by the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association finds that 90 percent of principals are experiencing difficulty finding substitute teachers.

Mr Melvin says that filling vacancies is getting more and more difficult, and wants the Department of Education to pay some sub teachers on a full time basis: