Special Educational Needs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 June 2022

Thursday, 30 June 2022

Questions (35)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

35. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to maximise participation of educational staff in the summer provision programme; if she has considered increasing the pay provided to SNAs; and if she will ensure payment of all staff participating is prompt. [34950/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

A key objective of this year’s Summer Programme is to increase the number of schools offering the summer programme to their students. Steps have been taken to afford schools as much flexibility as possible, and to ease administrative requirements. This year there is provision to recruit newly qualified teachers graduating this summer as well as undergraduate student teachers who have registered with the Teaching Council under Route 5.

To support and facilitate schools and principals with organising and running the programme, the 2022 Summer Programme allows principals to delegate these functions to other members of staff through the Overseer role and preparation hours. The Overseer and preparation roles provide an exciting personal opportunity for teachers to develop their leadership skills and experience with recognition at a whole-school level.

Contracted staff will receive their personal rate of pay for their participation on the school-based programme.  All others will receive an hourly/daily rate of pay.

Pay and workplace reform measures for public servants have been governed by a framework of public service pay agreements for a number of years with the current agreement "Building Momentum” in place until the end of 2022. SNAs will benefit from two pay increases as well as the benefit from sectoral bargaining funds to further increase pay.

This year for the first time there will be an online claims system for schools to submit payments details for those staff taking part in the school based summer programme. This will provide for faster and more streamlined payments to staff. Information on the school based payment procedures will issue to participating schools this week.