That's the concern of the Irish Primary Principals Network which says absenteeism due to Covid-19 is putting substitutes in high demand.
Schools have been directed to avoid using their Special Education Teachers to sub classes and instead try their local area's sub panel.
However the Irish Times reports principals are regularly unable to get a sub from the panel as they're oversubscribed.
Special Education Teacher at Cloonliffen National School, Mayo Daithi Ryder, says he is often pulled away from his students to sub main stream classes:
"Getting the substitute is like getting the holy grail these days. It's impossible to get a substitute. You're on the phone constantly. My lovely principal has recently got a substitute number and she just said, I'm going to keep them on speed dial, and I'm going to keep them very quiet from everybody else."
