Vol. 506 No. 5
222 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department is refusing job sharing to teachers where the school in question has a teacher over quota; and if he will discontinue this rule which discriminates against individuals. [15690/99]
The decision to approve an application for job sharing is a matter in the first instance for the authorities of the school concerned.
In the case of schools which have over-quota teachers, applications for job sharing may be considered by the authorities of the schools concerned in the normal way. It is open to the school authorities to apply to my Department for sanction to fill the resultant "vacancy" and each such application is considered on its merits.
My Department is currently considering applications of this nature which have been received and the authorities of the schools concerned will be advised of the decision very shortly.
223 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 598 of 20 April 1999, the progress, to date, on the pay claim by general operatives employed by vocational education committees (details supplied). [15693/99]
My Department had a meeting last month with the union concerned, together with the relevant managerial bodies, the IVEA and the ACS to discuss this claim. As a result of this meeting, the management side is now working on detailed aspects of the claim with a view to concluding the matter as soon as possible.
