Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 May 2003

Vol. 567 No. 1

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

244 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if the part-time workers Act has not been implemented in some or all vocational education committees; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that part-time workers with vocational education committees have been told that they can no longer sign on for unemployment assistance or benefit during the summer vacation due to their legal status under the Act and therefore, lose out where the Act is not implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13585/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

Discussions on implementation of the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001 for part-time teachers are ongoing with the teacher unions and managerial authorities under the aegis of the Teachers Conciliation Council.

The legislation is complex and provides an entitlement to pro rata pay and conditions of service to certain part-time teachers. The terms of any agreement reached with regard to improvements in pay and conditions of service will be issued to the managerial authorities of schools in time for the commencement of the 2003-04 school year. Any terms agreed will be retrospective to 20 December 2001.

I am very much aware of the issue raised by the Deputy in relation to the entitlement of part-time teachers to claim unemployment benefit or assistance during the summer periods and have been in direct contact very recently with my colleague the Minister for Social and Family Affairs in relation to this matter. I am hopeful that the issue can be resolved in the very near future.