Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 2003

Vol. 573 No. 3

Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

295 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the pension entitlements of persons employed by his Department to act as caretakers in schools; his plans to introduce entitlements to pensions and a gratuity; and the proposals he has for those who have long service in this capacity and who would not be in a position to build up contributions in the new scheme. [24813/03]

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

School caretakers are not employed by my Department. They may be employed directly by schools or vocational education committees or may be employed by private contractors who provide a caretaking service for schools. Caretakers in vocational schools are employed and paid by the appropriate VEC. Those employed on a wholetime basis are pensionable under the education sector superannuation scheme – formerly included in the local government superannuation scheme. Caretakers employed on a wholetime basis by community and comprehensive schools are pensionable under the terms of the contributory pension scheme for full-time non-teaching staff of comprehensive and community schools.

In the case of secondary schools, the position is that each school receives a grant from my Department for the provision of caretaking and other ancillary services. It is a matter for the school to determine how best to meet its caretaking requirements. No public service pension scheme exists for caretakers employed in such schools.

In primary schools there are two separate arrangements for the provision of caretaking services. Under a limited scheme introduced in 1979, caretakers are employed on a wholetime basis by 204 schools. In all other primary schools these provisions have been superseded by an arrangement under which each school receives a grant from my Department for the provision of caretaking and other ancillary services. As in the case of the grant provided for secondary schools, it is a matter for the school to determine how best to meet its caretaking requirements. No public service pension scheme exists for caretakers in primary schools, whether employed directly by the school or otherwise.

The question of pension cover for caretakers employed directly by primary and secondary schools and for part-time caretakers employed by vocational education committees and by community and comprehensive schools is currently under consideration in the context of the implementation of the Protection of Employees (Fixed-term Work) Act 2003 and the Protection of Employees (Part-time Work) Act 2001. Discussions with the education partners are ongoing regarding the implementation of these Acts. My Department's approach will be informed by the outcome of these discussions and developments in the wider public service.

With regard to persons with long service, the position is that public service pension schemes make provision for the reckoning of prior pensionable service, subject to payment of the appropriate contributions, in the case of any person who has been admitted to membership on an ongoing basis. Contributions in respect of prior service may be paid by deduction from the member's retirement gratuity.