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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 14 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 2

Written Answers. - Third Level Staff.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

131 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the situation where, in some third level institutions, full-time technicians do not enjoy pension rights or sick pay and are limited to stage nine of a 14 point incremental stage; and if he will investi gate the reason these technicians are not appointed on a permanent basis despite their long service. [17480/01]

I understand that the Deputy's question relates to technicians in the technological sector.

Institutes of technology are statutory bodies established under the Dublin Institute of Technology Acts, 1992 and 1994, and the Regional Technical Colleges Acts, 1992 to 1999. Under those Acts, the governance and day-to-day activities of the institutes are matters for which the governing body and the management staff of the institutes are responsible. I have no statutory function in relation to the appointment, whether temporary or permanent, of an individual to a post. This is a matter for individual institutes.

The position in relation to pension entitlements is that technicians employed in a permanent whole-time capacity are eligible for admission to the relevant pension scheme. These entitlements are not currently enjoyed by temporary whole-time technicians. However, my Department is currently reviewing the situation.

My Department is aware that, in relation to sick pay for temporary wholetime technicians, different practices apply in individual institutes. As a result, my Department is reviewing the situation. I expect the review to be completed shortly. I anticipate that the outcome of the review will result in the issuing of guidelines on sick pay entitlements for temporary wholetime technicians.

The position on incremental progression is that technicians employed on a temporary whole-time basis are granted annual increments up to a specified limit on the salary scale. However, the position has been reviewed in my Department and revised arrangements will shortly issue to institutes which will remove the limit.

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