A teacher staffing allocation is issued to each second level school annually by my Department. The majority of the posts are filled by whole time teachers. However, not all positions can be filled on a whole time basis due to subject requirements. In such cases teachers may be employed on a regular part-time contract or on a casual or non-casual basis by the board of management of the school.
A regular part-time contract is awarded to a qualified teacher who is employed by the board of management prior to 1 November and who teaches a regular number of hours each week for the duration of the school year. There are currently 2,559 teachers employed on regular part-time contracts in the voluntary secondary and community and comprehensive schools. Regular part-time teachers are paid on a pro rata basis, including holiday periods and the service is reckoned for pension and incremental purposes.
In the case of qualified teachers working on a casual basis for less than 150 hours in a school year, a daily rate of pay, which includes 22% holiday pay, is paid. Teaching service given on a casual basis since 21 December 2001 in second level schools is pensionable. It has also been agreed that the service shall be reckonable for the award of incremental credit, but the arrangements for the reckoning of such service have yet to be finalised.
In the event that a qualified teacher employed on a casual basis works for more than 150 hours in the school year, each additional hour worked over and above the 150 hour threshold will be paid at a personal hourly rate of pay. The personal hourly rate is determined by dividing the appropriate annual salary by 735. The annual salary takes account of the appropriate point on the common basic incremental scale of the particular qualified teacher and the relevant qualification allowances appropriate to the person.
The personal rate is also payable to a qualified teacher employed on a non-casual contract. A non-casual contract is awarded where a person is employed for a continuous period in excess of 150 hours but the overall period is less than a full school year. Examples of non-casual contracts are where teachers are employed as replacements for teachers absent on maternity leave.
The arrangements that I have outlined are being implemented by my Department on an ongoing basis.
