Brian O'Shea
Ceist:164 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress which has been made with regard to the pension scheme for school caretakers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28045/03]
Written Answers. - School Services Staff.
School caretakers are not employed by my Department. They may be employed directly by schools, vocational education committees or private contractors who provide a caretaking service to schools. Caretakers in vocational schools are employed and paid by the appropriate VEC. Those employed on a whole-time basis are pensionable under the education sector superannuation scheme which was formerly part of the local government superannuation scheme. Caretakers employed on a whole-time 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, 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 whole-time 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 In all other primary schools these provisions have been superseded by an arrangement under which each school receives a grant from my Department for the provision of caretaking and other ancillary services.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 to 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 they are 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 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.