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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 10 Apr 2003

Vol. 565 No. 2

Written Answers. - Schools Supervision and Substitution Scheme.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

52 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the total costs incurred by his Department arising from the emergency schools supervision and substitution scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10191/03]

The funding arrangements for the recruitment and payment of supervisors were part of the interim arrangements that were prepared and agreed between my Department and the managerial authorities for second level schools to ensure that schools would remain open when the ASTI directive to its members to withdraw from voluntary supervision and substitution duties took effect on 4 March 2002.

The interim arrangements by their nature were flexible and did not specify a pupil-supervisor ratio. It was recognised that the number of supervisors required would vary from school to school depending on local circumstances, including layout, both internal and external. In the circumstances, it was agreed with the managerial authorities that individual school management authorities were best placed to assess the level of cover and the number of persons required on an ongoing basis. Accordingly, responsibility for the making of appointments was a matter for school authorities. As the extent to which supervisors were employed by schools was a matter to be agreed between the staff concerned and the school authorities, schools were not required to return such information to my Department.

For purposes of the interim arrangements, payments have been made to schools by my Department, calculated on the basis of €1,369 per whole time equivalent teacher post per annum. In addition, funding has also been provided to cover employers' PRSI and holiday pay. Under the contingency arrangements a payment amounting to 5% of supervision costs are being provided to schools to pay for additional support, including secretarial assistance. In aggregate, the sum disbursed to schools to date amounts to some €39 million.

The interim arrangements acknowledged that supplementary allocations may need to be made to some schools if their approved outgoings are greater than the amount of the grant. Accordingly, schools are currently being asked to forward a statement detailing the moneys received and the moneys paid for both substitution and supervision and a statement certifying that the moneys have been spent for the purposes concerned. Upon receipt of such statements the final cost of the temporary-interim arrangements will be available. The ASTI has recently accepted the offer made on supervision and substitution and schools are currently making arrangements for the implementation of the scheme. It is expected that the scheme will be operational in all schools with effect from 14 April 2003.
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