The rights commissioner recommended that my Department issue payment amounting to 83% of the full rate of salary to a part-time special needs assistant for work which she undertook in an infants class. Arising from the rights commissioner's recommendation, my Department took the decision to pay part-time special needs assistants 83% of the full rate of salary if they are working in an infants class for the full duration of the infant school day. To enable my Department process applications, the school managerial authority must verify that the special needs assistant is working in an infants class for the full duration of the infant school day. As this process is ongoing, I am unable to give the Deputy details of the number of special needs assistants affected at this time.
The effective date for the implementation of this recommendation is 20 December, 2001. The amount of money varies in each case but a special needs assistant working for 23 hours and 20 minutes per week, while on the first point of the current salary scale, receives an additional gross payment of €39 per week. My Department will issue a circular to schools in the near future outlining the details of revised arrangements for the payment of part-time special needs assistants.