Vocational Education Committees.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2009

Tuesday, 1 December 2009

Questions (336)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

365 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to staff members employed in the further education sector in County Wexford Vocational Educational Committee have been offered contracts of indefinite duration as is their entitlement under the Protection of Part-Time Workers Act having had more than four fixed term contracts of employment; the steps he will take to ensure that County Wexford VEC is enabled to provide contracts of indefinite duration to these teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44319/09]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Seán Haughey)

Discussions in relation to the development of standardised Contracts of Indefinite Duration (CIDs) for incompletely qualified teachers are ongoing at the Teachers Conciliation Council, which is the recognised forum for dealing with matters relating to pay and conditions of service of teachers. The parties to the forum include representatives of the managerial authorities of schools, the teacher unions, the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Finance.

As the proceedings of the Conciliation Council are confidential it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment at this time.