Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 May 1995

Vol. 452 No. 3

Written Answers. - Army Apprentice School.

Eric J. Byrne

Ceist:

125 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to concerns that teachers at the army apprenticeship school in Athy, County Kildare, are being denied promotions given to teachers with equivalent grades in the regional technical colleges; the proposals, if any, she has to establish a transparent career structure for civilian employees of the Defence Forces equivalent to the careers structures common in other sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6590/95]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I understand that the Deputy's question refers specifically to teachers on the staff of the Army Apprentice School in Naas, County Kildare. The teachers there are employed by County Kildare Vocational Education Committee. My Department is aware that teachers in the Army Apprentice School are seeking pay levels equivalent to Lecturer I in a regional technical college. The matter has been taken up with my Department on their behalf by the Teachers' Union of Ireland.

The existing arrangements in the Army Apprentice School for salary levels and promotion structures for teaching staff were agreed by my Department with the Teachers' Union of Ireland in 1988. The current position in relation to promotion posts in the school is in line with this agreement.

The union is seeking to have promotion arrangements appropriate to regional technical college grades applied to the staff in the Army Apprentice School. My Department's view is that this constitutes a claim for improvements in the conditions of service of the teachers concerned. As such the claim has to be processed under the relevant provisions of theProgramme for Competitiveness and Work Pay Agreement.

It would be appropriate for the union to pursue the claim through the machinery of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for Teachers. The union has been advised accordingly.