Vol. 538 No. 5
172 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) is employed on a temporary part-time basis only; if he will review the case with a view to ensuring that this teacher does not have to rely on family income supplement and has proper conditions of employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18465/01]
The person referred to by the Deputy is employed as a part-time special needs assistant to assist the school authorities to cater for the special care needs of a particular pupil in the school who has an assessed level of need of 20 hours per week.
The rate of pay applicable to the post in question is currently £6.04 per hour. Part-time special needs assistants are contracted to deliver a specified number of hours service per week in the schools in which they are employed and are paid accordingly. The rate of pay for this type of assistant was increased with effect from 1 April 2001. Under current legislation 8% of total earnings is paid to each part-time special needs assistant in respect of holiday pay.
