Information supplied by the Department of Education shows that those using the teacher/politician leave perk include two party leaders . . .

Kenny and the Greens' Trevor Sargent . . . as well as three cabinet members, Communications minister Noel Dempsey, Micheal Martin, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Hanafin.

Kenny was elected to the Dail in 1975; Dempsey in 1987, Martin in 1989, Sargent in 1992 and Hanafin in 1997.

Politicians on secondment continue to receive increments on the teachers' pay scale.

They are also entitled to contribute towards their teacher pension scheme. "When a TD or Senator becomes a member of the Oireachtas, a replacement teacher is employed by the Board of Management of the school for the duration of the absence. On cessation of being a member of the Oireachtas, the person can return to a teaching post in the school or in certain cases may be placed on a panel for redeployment, " a Department of Education spokes person said.

Most TDs are involved in non-political activities for which they receive income.

These include directorships in private-sector companies and the letting of property.

However, only TDs from a teaching background have the job security offered by the teacher/politician leave entitlement. The indefinite leave scheme is only available for political career breaks.

A five-year limit is normally placed on teacher career breaks, while secondment to other employment positions must be approved on a yearby-year basis. Teaching is the largest single occupational category for members of the current Dail.

The teachers' unions are currently in negotiations with the Department of Education over the implementation of new legislation to ensure parttime teachers receive the same employment terms as permanent teachers. Until recently, substitute teachers were in limbo about job security and pension entitlements. However, new employment legislation means substitute teachers replacing a TD or senator for more than four years could be entitled to a fixed-term contract. The scheme has the backing of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO). "We support the current provision as we see it as encouraging participation in public life, " said INTO general secretary John Carr.

In addition to the two party leaders and three cabinet ministers, the other politicians on leave of absence include three junior ministers . . . Frank Fahy, Tom Kitt and Tony Killeen . . .along with Fianna Fail TDs Maire Hoctor and Pat Carey, and Senator Liam Fitzgerald.

The Fine Gael list includes Jimmy Deenihan, Paul McGrath and Senator Fergal Browne. The Labour TDs on leave of absence are Tommy Broughan, Joe Costello, Brendan Howlin, Brian O'Shea and Roisin Shortall. Three independent TDs . . . Tony Gregory, Marian Harkin and Finian McGrath . . . also avail of the scheme.