Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Nov 1993

Vol. 435 No. 10

Adjournment Debate. - Substitute Teacher Payments.

Miss Quill

I thank you, Sir, for selecting this topic and the Minister for coming into the House to respond. It has been a long day for the Minister and I appreciate the fact that she has made herself available to reply to a simple issue in many ways, but not simple in respect of the impact it has had on a number of substitute teachers in the primary sector.

The problem arose because of a change in the procedure of payments in the payments section of the Department of Education. As a result, a problem arose and was first brought to my attention on 22 October when salary cheques due to substitute teachers did not arrive. A total of 700 substitute teachers did not receive a salary that week and a number of them are still awaiting payment in respect of that week. I understand there have been improvements in the meantime and that the list of teachers now awaiting payment has been reduced to approximately 500. Nonetheless, that is an unacceptable number of people in the public service left without pay.

Substitute teachers have enough difficulties to contend with. In most, if not all, cases substitute teachers are as highly qualified as teachers in the permanent service. When employed they carry out their work as conscientiously and as competently as any permanent teacher and that matter has been well adjudged by the inspectorate and school principals. They should not be treated in that manner. If a delay of that nature was visited on our permanent teaching force, intense union pressure would be applied, there would be intense ministerial activity and the matter would be settled before now. It is grossly unfair and unjust that a greater sense of urgency has not been applied in dealing with this issue.

Many of these substitute teachers are married with families. Indeed, some are the sole breadwinner. Like the rest of us they have to meet mortgage repayments, rent payments and other demands. They can ill-afford to do without or wait for three weeks for a salary cheque. Given the high cost of living all of us need every last penny of what we earn. If our salaries are not paid on time we are placed at a severe disadvantage. It is grossly unfair that substitute teachers have had to wait for so long to have the matter resolved.

I ask the Minister to intervene at this stage to find a solution to the problem and, having found that solution, she should be able to say to these teachers that this delay was unacceptable and will not happen again.

Ms Bhreathnach

I am pleased to have the opportunity to outline to the Deputy the position in relation to the payment of substitute teachers.

I would like to point out first that the conditions of service of substitute teachers have improved considerably in recent times. Qualified substitute teachers are now granted, subject to certain conditions, both incremental and pensionable credit for their service in primary schools. The rate of daily pay of qualified substitutes has increased from £38 in January 1990 to the current rate of £60.22.

I have also established this year three pilot projects of supply panels whereby the short term substitution requirements of designated schools in the project areas are provided by temporary teachers. The information I am receiving indicates that the pilot projects are very satisfactory. The teachers providing these substitution needs are paid as temporary teachers.

A new payroll system for the payment of substitute teachers was introduced by my Department on 29 October last. The new payroll system is an extension of the main payroll system for the payment of permanent and temporary teachers which was introduced last December.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the new substitute payroll system has a number of advantages over the system it replaces. Payments for service given by qualified substitutes in different schools can be issued in a single payment. In the old payroll system only one payment could be issued to a teacher in any one week.

The new system enables my Department to deal effectively with claims for the reckoning of incremental and pensionable service for substitute teachers. This was a very difficult and cumbersome process with the old payroll system.

The introduction of the new system has enabled the amount of time for the input of applications to be extended. In the old payroll system it was only possible for staff of my Department to input claims for four days per week. It is now possible to input for a minimum of 4.5 days.

The new payroll system has many controls to avoid overpayments. Unfortunately, if the application form for the payment of a substitute is not completed fully and accurately by the principal teacher and the chairperson of the board of management the claim cannot be input into the new payroll system because of the inbuilt controls. In such circumstances it is necessary for the staff of my Department to return the form to the chairperson for completion. This can result in delays in the payment issuing to a substitute teacher. At present there is a one week delay in the issue of payments.

My Department has advised both the INTO and the managerial authorities of the difficulties in relation to the filling of the application form. I am confident that, as chairpersons realise the difficulties being caused by the incomplete filling of forms, they will ensure that only properly completed forms will be submitted. This will enable my Department to issue payments promptly.

It has been agreed that substitute teachers will be paid on a fortnightly basis in the future. The introduction of fortnightly payments is being delayed until the present difficulties with the application forms are resolved.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.25 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 18 November 1993.