The Department of Education is due to meet with teachers' unions today to discuss students serving as substitute teachers.
Around 4,000 teaching students will serve as subs in primary schools up until the February mid-term break.
The initiative applies to those in third or fourth year, as well as those in postgraduate teaching courses.
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The Irish National Teachers' Organisation estimates up to 1,500 primary teachers are currently unavailable to work due to Covid-19.
General Secretary, John Boyle, says contact tracing needs to resume in classrooms to deal with high levels of infection:
