Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2004
» ...
»
School Services Staff.
219 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if school caretakers will be included in benchmarking payments in their capacity as workers in the public service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34006/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that caretakers employed under the Department's 1979 scheme are eligible for payment of phase 1 and phase 2 of the benchmarking award, together with phase 1 of Sustaining Progress.
The increased pay rate, together with any arrears owed, will be included in the caretakers salary issue dated 30 December 2004. The amount of the advance arrears payment, which issued to the caretakers in May last, will be deducted from this salary issue and any outstanding balance will be paid.
The relevant circular is set out below for the Deputy's information.
Circular Pay 29/04
To the Management Authorities of Primary Schools
Revision of Salaries for Caretakers employed under the Department's 1979 Scheme
1. The Minister for Education and Science wishes to inform Management Authorities and Caretakers of the application of revised rates of salary with effect from:
(a) 1 December 2001 and
(b) 1 January 2004
2. The new rates of salary have been introduced as a result of the implementation of:
(a) Phase 1 and 2 of the pay award under the Benchmarking Agreement.
(b) Phase 1 of Sustaining Progress.
Section 19.19 of Sustaining Progress provided that one quarter of the increases recommended by the Public Service Benchmarking Body would be paid with effect from 1 December 2001 and one half would be paid with effect from 1 January 2004. In accordance with Section 19.18 of Sustaining Progress an increase of 3% is due with effect from 1 January 2004 also.
3. The payment of the first and second phase of the increases recommended by the Public Service Benchmarking Body and the 3% increase are dependent, in the case of each organisation and grade, on verification of co-operation with flexibility and ongoing change, satisfactory implementation of the agenda for modernisation, maintenance of stable industrial relations and absence of industrial action in respect of any matters covered by the Sustaining Progress agreement. The Secretary General in consultation with the Education Sector Performance Verification Group (ESPVG) has considered progress achieved and decided that the level of progress achieved during the period warrants the payment of the relevant pay increases.
4. For calculation purposes the second phase increase due under benchmarking has been added to the first phase increase of one quarter of the benchmarking award. This combined total of three quarters of the increase recommended by the Public Service Benchmarking Body has been added to the pre-benchmark pay rate as at 30th November 2001. The increase has been added to each point of incremental scales.
5. The basic pay rates resulting from the above calculation have been adjusted to take account of the 1st October 2002 increase of 4% due under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
6. Finally, the 3% increase due has been added to the basic pay rates resulting from the preceding paragraph with an effective date of 1st January 2004.
7. The final payment of Benchmarking increases and future payments under Sustaining Progress are dependent, in the case of each organisation and grade, on verification of co-operation with flexibility and ongoing change, maintenance of stable industrial relations and absence of industrial action in respect of any matters covered by Sustaining Progress. Payment is dependent on verification of satisfactory achievement of targets to be achieved in relation to ongoing change and flexibility.
8. The revised salary scales are set out in a schedule to this circular which can be accessed on this Department's website at www.education.ie under Education Personnel/Payroll Division.
9. Management authorities are requested to bring the contents of this Circular and the new salary scales to the attention of the Caretaker in their school. They are also requested to give a copy of the Circular and the salary scales to the members of the Board of Management.
10. The increased pay rate, together with any arrears owed, will be included in salary issue dated 30th December 2004. The amount of the advance arrears payment which issued to the caretaker in May last, will be deducted from this salary issue and any outstanding balance will be paid. Please refer to the notification on the advance payment which also issued in May last for any queries in this regard.
11. Queries regarding the Circular should be e-mailed to snacoct@education.gov.ie
P. Maloney
Principal Officer
December 2004
