Written Answers. - Supervision Costs.
David Stanton
Question:
237
Mr. Stanton
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the total cost of the contingency plan regarding supervision and substitution respectively in secondary schools, to date; the total number of people who have been hired to act as supervisors and teaching substitutes respectively; the number of schools involved; his plans for resolving the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14544/02]
David Stanton
Question:
254
Mr. Stanton
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the legislative mechanism by which the costs associated with the contingency plan regarding supervision and substitution in second level schools will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14761/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 and 254 together.
My Department's officials held discussions with the representatives of the managerial authorities in the second level sector. This was done to ensure that schools would remain open when the ASTI directive to its members to withdraw from voluntary supervision and substitution duties took effect on 4 March.
Following detailed discussions with officials of my Department contingency arrangements were drawn up by the representative management groups, the Joint Managerial Body, the Irish Vocational Education Association and the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools. As part of the arrangements my Department undertook to resource schools in order that they could employ staff to provide supervision and thereby remain open.
Payments amounting to €17.8 million have issued under the plan. The plan acknowledged that supplementary allocations may need to be made to some schools at a later date if their approved outgoings were greater than the amount of the grant. Accordingly, final costs are not yet available.
The contingency plan, by its nature, is flexible and does not specify a pupil-supervisor ratio. The plan recognised that the number of supervisors required would vary from school to school depending on local circumstances including layout, both internal and external. Individual school management authorities are best placed to assess the level of cover and the number of persons required on an ongoing basis. Responsibility for making appointments is a matter for school authorities. Information concerning the number of supervisors recruited by schools is not available to my Department.
The management authorities informed my Department that some 500 schools have implemented the plan.
Recently agreement was reached with the Teachers' Union of Ireland and the Irish National Teachers Organisation that the pensionability of the substitution and supervision payment is acceptable in principle, subject to compliance with the requirements of the existing superannuation scheme. Discussions will take place between my Department and the unions concerned during the summer months in order to resolve the pension issues before the commencement of the next school year.
No additional legislative instruments were required to give effect to my Department's funding of the contingency arrangements. Funding was provided in line with normal administrative arrangements and in compliance with public financial procedures.
