Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 March 2012
162 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the delay being experienced by former special needs assistants for their redundancy payments, some of whom will have to wait in excess of six months before receiving their payments; his views on whether this is an acceptable situation; the steps he will take to rectify the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12301/12]
View answerExtra resources were assigned to the Redundancy Unit at the end of October 2011 to ensure that Special Needs Assistants who have been made redundant would have their claims for payment processed as quickly as possible. The assignment of the staff has helped to reduce the period of the backlog significantly.
A large volume of redundancy applications were received during the period July-September 2011. Applications received during those months are currently being processed in date order of receipt and every effort is being made, within the resources available, to process these applications as quickly as possible. Once the large number of applications received during this period are processed the current backlog shall be reduced further.
The Deputy will appreciate that in the context of the employment control framework it is only possible to reassign limited staffing resources from within the existing staff cohort of my Department to deal with redundancy payments whilst at the same time ensuring that other priority functions such the payment of teachers on a fortnightly basis continues.
163 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite the redundancy payments owed to a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow who used to be employed as a special needs assistant and will not receive any redundancy pay until April 2012 at the earliest despite applying for payment in September 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12302/12]
View answerAn application for redundancy from the person referred to by the Deputy was received by my Department on 21st September 2011. A large number of applications were received during the period July-September 2011. Applications received during those months are currently being processed. Applications are processed in date order of receipt with some priority given to those SNAs who have not obtained alternative employment in a non-teaching capacity in primary, secondary or community/comprehensive schools in the current school year. Every effort is being made, within the resources available, to process these applications as quickly as possible.
164 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills, further to Parliamentary Question No. 65 of 28 September 2011, the number of additional staff who have been transferred within his Department’s payroll division to expedite the payment of redundancy money to former special needs assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12303/12]
View answerMy Department is responsible for the payment of ninety thousand serving and retired teachers, special needs assistants and certain clerical officers and caretakers on a fortnightly basis. The priority of the Department is to ensure that those personnel are paid correctly and on time each fortnight.
Another priority is to process the redundancy applications for special needs assistants which have increased substantially in the last two years as quickly as possible. The Deputy will appreciate that in the context of the employment control framework it is only possible to reassign limited additional staffing resources from within the existing staff cohort of my Department to deal with redundancy payments whilst at the same time ensuring that other priority functions such the payment of teachers on a fortnightly basis continues.
Accordingly, the number of staff assigned and the periods of their assignment have varied. Overall since late October, approximately ten additional staff members have been temporarily re-assigned to the Redundancy Unit from various Sections of my Department.
165 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of redundancy applications in respect of special needs assistants he has received over the past 12 months; the number of applicants who have received their payments; the number outstanding; the average time applicants must wait to receive their payment; if he is satisfied with this waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12304/12]
View answerA total of 1,101 redundancy applications in respect of Special Needs Assistants was received by my Department in the 12 months from January to December 2011. During that same period, 627 redundancy payments (totalling in excess of €4.9 million) were paid to Special Needs Assistants.
383 redundancy applications are currently being processed by the Redundancy Unit and payment in respect of those will issue as soon as possible. Up to the end of February 2012, a further 450 applications (approx) have been received. These applications will be processed in date order of receipt with some priority given to those SNAs who have not obtained alternative employment in a non teaching capacity in primary, secondary or community/comprehensive schools in the current school year.
Every effort is being made, within the resources available, to process redundancy applications as quickly as possible. Extra resources were assigned to the Redundancy Unit at the end of October 2011 to ensure that Special Needs Assistants that have been made redundant would have their claims for payment processed as quickly as possible.
