Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 3

Written Answers. - Substitute Teacher Conditions.

Richard Bruton

Question:

305 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason untrained substitute teachers do not enjoy the right to take sick leave with pay when they are on long running assignments; and if the arrangements could be viewed as similar to those used by rogue employers who seek to avoid labour rights by employing people under self-employed contracts instead of normal employee arrangements. [17673/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

Substitute teachers are employed by boards of management of schools on a casual basis and paid a daily rate of pay. Substitute teachers pay the A rate of PRSI and may be entitled to claim benefit from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs for absences owing to illness.