Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 July 2013
119. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a circular on the redeployment of special needs assistants will be circulated; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32666/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, a new set of proposals for a public service agreement were put forward by the Labour Relations Commission which now form the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2016 (the Haddington Road Agreement). The Government has committed to implementing the terms of the Haddington Road Agreement for grades represented by Unions which have signed up to the Haddington Road Agreement. One aspect of the Haddington Road Agreement refers to supplementary assignment arrangements for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and as both Unions that represent SNAs namely, SIPTU and IMPACT, have now signed up to the Haddington Road Agreement, the Department has implemented supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs for the 2013/2014 school year. The detailed arrangements are set out in Departmental Circular 0037/2013 which issued on 1 July 2013. I will forward a copy of the circular and of the Haddington Road agreement to the Deputy.
