I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter and I appreciate the fact that the Minister himself is here. I do not expect him to have as much immediate good news for me as he had for Senator Norris, but if he cannot respond fully to my matter he might examine it in his Department and come back to me as soon as he can.
I raise the need for the Minister to give greater recognition to substitute teachers who have given long service to the primary education system. In drafting this motion I did not use the word "unqualified"; the people expressing their concerns to me in my county may not have a paper qualification, but the fact that they have served the system for 20 to 30 years to the satisfaction of school principals, inspectors, parents and students indicates that they must possess fitness and qualification for the work. That may not be recognised simply by their having done an accredited course. I raise this matter on their behalf because they have approached me. I understand they have also written to the Minister.
I am not aware of the situation in cities, but in rural areas, such as the counties I represent, these people perform a very important service in the primary education sector, particularly in substituting at short notice in the smaller rural schools. They are employed on a flat rate basis and are paid for the hours the principal employs them, often on a daily basis. Irrespective of their length of service or the effort they put in, there is no incremental recognition in their rates of pay for their work. Under part-time workers' legislation they are entitled to the same basic pay as any other part-time worker; there is no pro rata recognition of their entitlements compared to full time, fully qualified teachers in the system. There are no sick pay or pension schemes for them, and because they are not represented by a trade union there is nobody to fight their case. Their numbers nowadays are not very large, so it would now be financially feasible to look at granting them some recognition. I spoke to one of these teachers last Saturday, and she was phoned by schools in her parish on three occasions last week between 8 and 8.30 a.m. She got her own children out to school, downed tools, went into classrooms, took over with no notes from either the principal or the absent teacher and did a good day's work, as she has done for the last 25 years. She can be summoned or dismissed at short notice.
I recognise the measures the Minister is taking to address the supply problem in primary schools, particularly those taken this year to allow people with qualifications other than the B.Ed. to step in. However, these people are not always interested in going on a supply panel in rural areas. The Minister's measures will work in the long term, but the present people will be in the system for some time yet. Their cases should be examined.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Parents are very happy with the service provided by these people. I came across an incident last month where one of the higher diploma graduates came into a school and parents complained that the teacher had never stood in a primary school. They wanted to know why an individual who lived nearby was not called in as had been the case for ten years because she knew the situation in the school. Parents, principals and students who have gone through the system are happy with the service from these teachers over the years.
I am aware that in the past courses were put in place to train these teachers but everybody did not have access to them at the time. People who attended colleges of education were not entirely happy that the level of qualification imparted on those occasions was commensurate with theirs. Initially, it is not just a matter of qualification. The demand in which those people have been over the years is proof enough of their ability to do the job. I called one of them this evening and she said that they realise they will not be in the system very long but if they are to leave it, they should go with some decency.
I appeal to the Minister to examine their needs and grant them some recognition. More recognition is given at post primary level to teachers who step in at short notice and cover classes. I ask him to examine this situation in the primary sector and try to give these people, who have served the education system well, recognition before their services are dispensed with or they reach retirement age.
