Jim Higgins
Ceist:78 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the rate of expenses paid to primary and second level teachers for participation in in-service courses; and the reason for the delays in making such payments.
Written Answers. - Teachers' Courses.
In the case of primary schools, Department organised in-service courses are provideD free of charge and teachers are not paid expenses to attend such courses or other in-service courses.
In the case of second level teachers, revised rates of expenses for attendance at in-service courses organised by my Department were introduced with effect from 1 January 1991. The new rates are as follows:
Subsistence allowance per night
Blockrelease courses in remedial education: £19.91.
Other courses: £12.07.
Travel allowance
Payable at the lowest bus or train rate. If public transport is not available, 21p per mile is payable as a car allowance.
In addition teachers attending the one-day junior certificate courses are provided with a mid-day meal.
Delays in making payments relate only to the one-day junior certificate courses. It will be appreciated that, in view of the very large attendances at these courses (16,000 attended the courses in February 1991), all payments cannot be processed within the normal expected timescale. Some delay is inevitable on occasion.