Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2004
135 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if PEN 2/04 regarding the pension scheme for special needs assistants can be used for considering pensionability for part-time resource teachers at primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23846/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position is that under the Protection of Employees (Part-time Work) Act 2001, service given by a part-time employee is pensionable where it amounts to at least 20% of the hours of a comparable wholetime employee who is a member of the employer's pension scheme. The Act applies not only to pensionability but to pay and conditions of service generally. Discussions between public service unions and management regarding the implementation of the Act have been informed by the recent Government decision regarding implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on Public Service Pensions in the case of part-time workers and those in receipt of low pay generally. It is expected that these discussions will be concluded shortly.
In the meantime, I can confirm that the provisions of the Act will apply in the case of part-time resource teachers. At present, these teachers are paid directly by their schools out of funds provided by my Department. The practical arrangements which would need to be made to pay salary to the teachers concerned through a payroll operated by my Department, including provision for the deduction of pension contributions, are currently being examined.
