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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 3

Written Answers - Sick Leave Payment.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

156 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 6 March 2003, if exceptions have in the past been made by his Department to the rules on paid sick leave; if he will re-examine this case which is exceptional if not unique in view of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9287/03]

There are no exceptions to the limit of 365 days of paid leave for teachers absent owing to personal illness. In the case of the teacher referred to by the Deputy, it is a matter for the employer, City of Limerick VEC, to ensure that this allowance of paid leave has been applied correctly in this case.

It is open to any teacher who, while actually serving as a teacher, has become incapable from infirmity of body or mind of discharging the duties of a teacher, and where such infirmity is likely to be permanent, to make application for the payment of a disability pension. The granting of a disability pension, in the case of a teacher employed by a vocational education committee, is subject to the formal approval of the relevant vocational education committee based on the report of a medical examiner appointed by that VEC.

The terms and conditions of employment of teachers are the subject of agreements at the Teachers Conciliation Council, which is comprised of representatives of teacher unions, school management bodies, my Department, the Department of Finance and an independent chairperson. Agreed terms and conditions are, as I indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 6 March last, of general application to all teachers and it would be wholly inappropriate for me to interfere in this process.

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