Over 12,000 teachers calling in sick Mondays and Fridays

An average of 12,500 teachers across the state pull 'sickies' on every Monday and Friday, an Oireachtas Committee heard today.

Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe insisted he had to save €28m in 2009 on the cost of hiring substitute teachers to replace teaching staff – a controversial issue in last month’s Budget.