Olwyn Enright
Question:136 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if circular letter PPT 19/03 can apply to part-time resource teachers in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23847/04]
View answerThursday, 7 October 2004
Questions (136)
Written answers
The provisions of circular letter PPT 19/03 which were agreed with the teacher unions apply only to second level schools, Traveller training centres, vocational training opportunities schemes, Prison Service and other similar recognised Exchequer funded educational institutions as agreed from time to time. The terms were agreed in the context of the implementation of the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001 and are designed to ensure that part-time teachers employed in the post-primary sector are treated no less favourably than full- time teachers employed in the same sector.
Teachers employed in primary schools have different conditions of service than teachers employed in post-primary schools having regard to both the length of the working week and the school year and the arrangements agreed for part-time resource teachers in primary schools as set out in circular letter 11/04 reflect those differences. These are interim arrangements, which will be the subject of further discussions with the teacher unions.