Vol. 541 No. 4
102 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals negotiated by him for supervision and substitution in primary and post-primary schools; and the contingency plans he has in place to keep schools open in the event of these proposals being rejected by one or more of the teacher unions. [23018/01]
Discussions on the issue of supervision and substitution in post-primary schools have recently been concluded with the teachers' unions and a final formal offer was put to the unions on 28 September. The offer included the following elements. Additional payment will be made to teachers already employed in the school who volunteer to undertake supervision duties during break times and immediately before and after school. Additional payment will be made to teachers already employed in the school who volunteer to provide substitution cover for casual absences of colleagues on sick leave or school business. Schools will be provided with funding on the basis of a requirement of 37 hours' supervision and substitution per teacher. Participation in these duties would be voluntary and payment will be on verified delivery of the service. Payment will be at the rate of £27 per hour inclusive of the 5.5% payable from 1 October 2001. Payments will be made twice yearly.
The TUI executive has decided to put the offer to a ballot of its members without a recommendation. The result of that ballot will be known on 26 October. The ASTI central executive has rejected a recommendation from the standing committee that the "Final Offer on Supervision and Substitution" should be put to a ballot of members. The CEC has rejected the offer. Instead the CEC decided to ballot its members on withdrawal from all voluntary supervision and substitution. The motion also asks for approval that the status quo continue where voluntary supervision and substitution in schools is concerned until a directive is issued pursuant to the outcome of the ballot. A ballot will take place at ASTI branch venues on Tuesday, 9, and Wednesday, 10 October, that is, today and tomorrow. The ballots will be counted on Friday, 12 October. Discussions with the Irish National Teachers' Organisation on the model of delivery in that sector are continuing.
I hope teachers offered £27 per hour for work done previously on a voluntary basis will not opt for a course of action which will lead to disruption in schools. In the event that teachers opt to withdraw from supervision and substitution, there will be difficulties in schools.
Additional InformationHowever, I will assist school management in every way possible to deal with situations that arise and to minimise disruption to pupils. My officials are in regular contact with the school management bodies on the most appropriate arrangements to deal with any difficulties which might arise.
There is an element of déjà vu about this. This time last year the Minister was in the throes of a battle with the ASTI which damaged the fabric of the education system significantly. He referred to the ASTI in his reply and I regret that the union did not see fit to put this proposal on supervision and substitution to its members for a proper ballot.
Can the Minister give guarantees and what negotiations has he had with representatives of school management bodies to assure parents and pupils, some of whom face examinations that will determine their career prospects, that schools will remain open notwithstanding the outcome of the ballot which could see schools threatened with closure before the end of the month?
If teachers opt to withdraw from supervision and substitution in schools, it will create difficulties. I will assist school management in every way possible to deal with situations that arise and to minimise disruption to pupils. My officials are in regular contact with school management bodies on the most appropriate arrangements to deal with any difficulties which might arise.
Are these not the same difficulties which forced the joint managerial body last year to issue a directive to school principals to close schools? Surely 12 months later the Minister is not telling us he has no contingency plan to ensure schools remain open. Have we learned anything from or progressed since last year's ASTI pay dispute?
Earlier in the year the Deputy kept telling me I did not have any contingency plans for the examinations and I kept telling him I had.
The Minister was fortunate he did not have to use them.
We have contingency plans for this should it arise. I hope it will not and it would be most unfortunate were it to. Voting is taking place at present and it is not very helpful for Deputies opposite to upset matters while the vote is in progress. It is preferable to let teachers make their decision and to see where we go from there.
Does the Minister accept that he has in many respects snatched defeat from the jaws of victory by the manner in which he denigrated the voluntary effort of teachers in schools and not least by the manner in which he made illegal deductions of pay to ASTI members—
We must proceed to Question No. 103.
—and ill-timed pay deductions as teachers go to ballot? It is certain to ensure the same result again.
I call Question 103.
The Deputy speaks a load of rubbish. I do not accept anything he says.
Will the Minister deal with Question No. 103?
