Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2016
116. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Skills with reference to circular number 0076/2015, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that €20,000 per annum disparity exists between the highest and lowest paid school secretary for the same job; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29367/16]
View answerA scheme was initiated in 1978 for the employment of Clerical Officers in primary and secondary schools. While a small number of these staff remain in schools, the schemes are being phased out and have been superseded by a more extensive capitation grant scheme. The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme now receive capitation grant assistance to provide for secretarial (and caretaking and cleaning services). Within the capitation grant schemes, it is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs and the Department does not stipulate how such services are to be obtained. Where a school uses the capitation grant funding to employ a secretary (or caretaker or cleaner), such staff are employees of individual schools. My Department therefore does not have any role in determining the pay and conditions under which they are engaged. These are matters to be agreed between the staff concerned and the school authorities.
Notwithstanding the above, in 2015 my Department agreed to engage with the union side in relation to the pay of School Secretaries and Caretakers who are employed using grant funding and to enter an arbitration process if necessary. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 for School Secretaries and Caretakers comprehended by the terms of the arbitration process and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 for such staff be phased in over the period 2016 to 2019.
The Arbitrator's recommendations were accepted by both sides. My Department issued Circulars to schools which gave effect to the measures which applied from 1 January 2016 (i.e. an increase of 2.5% in the hourly pay rate and the introduction of a minimum hourly rate of €10.25) to School Secretaries and Caretakers comprehended by the terms of the arbitration process and also revised grant rates. Staff who were not comprehended by the Arbitrator's recommendations will benefit from the pay restoration measures contained in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015.
