Thursday, 7 Mar 2013

Written Answers Nos. 55-59

Bullying of Children

Ceisteanna (55)

Michael Colreavy

Ceist:

55. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the OK Kids programme that was launched recently by the National Anti-Bullying Coalition; if it is to be implemented on a pilot basis in County Roscommon; and his plans to provide funding and support for this initiative. [11753/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy will be aware, I recently launched an Action Plan on Bullying and have ring-fenced €500,000 to support implementation of the actions in the plan this year. The actions in the plan centre around three key themes: support for schools, awareness raising measures and further research. I have asked my officials to contact the National Anti-Bullying Coalition to discuss the contents of the OK Kids Programme.

Teachers' Remuneration

Ceisteanna (56)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

56. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will list in tabular form the respective pay scales of post-primary school teachers and the way this has been affected by pay cuts and pension levies introduced since 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11992/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The pay scales and rates of allowances paid to teachers from 2009 to date are set out in the following table.

TEACHERS' COMMON BASIC SCALE	1/9/2008	1/1/2010	New Entrants post 1/1/2011	New Entrants post 1/2/2012
1	€ 32,599	€ 30,904	€ 27,814	€ 30,702
2	€ 33,753	€ 31,972	€ 28,775	€ 32,198
3	€ 34,909	€ 33,041	€ 29,737	€ 33,168
4	€ 36,068	€ 34,113	€ 30,702	€ 34,136
5	€ 37,865	€ 35,775	€ 32,198	€ 36,576
6	€ 39,030	€ 36,853	€ 33,168	€ 37,795
7	€ 40,193	€ 37,929	€ 34,136	€ 39,251
8	€ 43,124	€ 40,640	€ 36,576	€ 40,700
9	€ 44,588	€ 41,994	€ 37,795	€ 42,160
10	€ 46,337	€ 43,612	€ 39,251	€ 43,380
11	€ 48,078	€ 45,222	€ 40,700	€ 44,996
12	€ 49,831	€ 46,844	€ 42,160	€ 44,996
13	€ 51,297	€ 48,200	€ 43,380	€ 44,996
14	€ 53,239	€ 49,996	€ 44,996	€ 47,225
15	€ 53,239	€ 49,996	€ 44,996	€ 47,225
16	€ 53,239	€ 49,996	€ 44,996	€ 47,225
17	€ 55,916	€ 52,472	€ 47,225	€ 47,225
18	€ 55,916	€ 52,472	€ 47,225	€ 50,170
19	€ 55,916	€ 52,472	€ 47,225	€ 50,170
20	€ 55,916	€ 52,472	€ 47,225	€ 50,170
21	€ 59,453	€ 55,744	€ 50,170	€ 50,170
22	€ 59,453	€ 55,744	€ 50,170	€ 53,423
23	€ 59,453	€ 55,744	€ 50,170
24	€ 59,453	€ 55,744	€ 50,170
25	€ 63,361	€ 59,359	€ 53,423

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS	-	-	-
1. (a) (i) H. Dip. in Ed. (Pass)	€ 622	€ 591	€ 532
(ii) Higher Froebel Cert.	€ 622	€ 591	€ 532
(b) (i) H. Dip. in Ed. (1st or 2nd Hons)	€ 1,301	€ 1,236	€ 1,112
(ii) Ard Teastas Gaeilge	€ 1,301	€ 1,236	€ 1,112
(c) Primary Degree (Pass)	€ 1,939	€ 1,842	€ 1,658
(d) Masters Degree by thesis or exam (Pass)	€ 5,177	€ 4,918	€ 4,426
(e) Primary Degree (1st or 2nd Hons)	€ 5,177	€ 4,918	€ 4,426
(f) Masters Degree (1st or 2nd Hons)	€ 5,785	€ 5,496	€ 4,946
(g) Doctors Degree	€ 6,463	€ 6,140	€ 5,526
Only one of the allowances at (a) or(b) may be held together with one of the allowances (c) to (g)
2. (i) *An Teastas i dTeagasc na	€ 4,503	€ 4,278	€ 3,850
Gaeilge le honóracha
(ii) *Higher Diploma in Education (1st or 2nd Hons)	€ 4,503	€ 4,278	€ 3,850
(iii) *Primary Degree (Pass) together with at least 3 years approved experience in commercial, industrial or other approved occupation	€ 4,503	€ 4,278	€ 3,850
*Payable only to teachers who were in receipt of an allowance of £110 (pre July 1968) and who did not qualify for a higher allowance at 1. above
(iv) Diploma for Teachers of Deaf, Blind, Mentally and Physically Handicapped Children	€ 2,565	€ 2,437	€ 2,193
OTHER ALLOWANCES	-	-	-
1. Rural Science Teachers	€ 1,939	€ 1,842	€ 1,658
2. Itinerant Domestic Science	€ 1,939	€ 1,842	€ 1,658
Teachers
3. Teaching through Irish	€ 1,666	€ 1,583	€ 1,424
4. Gaeltacht Grant payable to teachers in the Gaeltacht other than those in receipt of an allowance equal to 10% of scale salary	€ 3,224	€ 3,063	€ 2,757
5. Island Allowance	€ 1,939	€ 1,842	€ 1,658
6. Special allowance payable to teachers in Comprehensive Schools	€ 2,601	€ 2,471	€ 2,224
Untrained Teachers' Rate	€ 28,794	€ 27,354	€ 24,619
Allowance for Teachers with 35 years' service	€ 2,446	€ 2,324	€ 2,091
Honorarium Allowance Payable to Teachers in the Prison Service	€ 5,024	€ 4,773	€ 4,296
SECONDMENT ALLOWANCES	-	-	-
CATEGORY 2	€ 17,711	€ 16,825	€ 15,143
CATEGORY 3	€ 13,838	€ 13,146	€ 11,831
CATEGORY 4	€ 10,663	€ 10,130	€ 9,117
Allowance payable to teachers of apprentices in Dun Laoghaire and Co. Cork VECs	€ 10,253	€ 9,740	€ 8,766
Secure Unit Allowance/ Disturbed Adolescent Allowance	€ 2,311	€ 2,195	€ 1,976

NOTES:

Since 2009, the following measures have been applied to the salaries of teachers:

1. With effect from 1 March 2009, a pension levy was introduced for all public servants, including teachers. The levy is:

- first €15,000 of earnings are exempt;

- 5% on next €5,000 of earnings;

- 10% on earnings between €20,000 and €60,000; and,

- 10.5% on earnings above €60,000

2. With effect from 1 January 2010, a pay cut was introduced for all public servants, including teachers. The effect of this for public servants with rates of basic salary not over €125,000 was:

- 5% on the first €30,000 of basic salary

- 7.5% on any amount of basic salary over €30,000 but not over €70,000

- 10% on any amount of basic salary over €70,000 but not over €125,000

- 5% on allowances

3. With effect from 1 January 2011, the salaries of all new entrants to the public service, including teachers, were reduced by 10%. In addition, all public servants were required to start on the first point of the relevant pay scale.

4. With effect from 5 December 2011, a cap on the payment of qualification allowances was introduced. Teachers who entered teaching on or after that date were eligible for combined qualification allowances up to a maximum of honours primary degree level. Both new entrants and existing teachers are not eligible for further qualification allowances above this level if they acquire further qualifications after that date.

5. With effect from 1 February 2012 and as a result of the allowances review, a new pay scale was introduced for new entrants to teaching, as these teachers are no longer eligible to be paid qualification allowances. The first point of this new scale is equivalent to the fourth point of the existing scale. In addition, certain allowances are withdrawn or modified for new beneficiaries with effect from that date. Full details are set out in Department Circular 8/2013.

Question No. 57 answered with Question No. 22.

Question No. 58 answered with Question No. 36.

School Patronage

Ceisteanna (59)

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

59. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a decision made in his Department to give patronage of a new secondary school for Tyrrelstown, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 to the Catholic Le Chéile trust, in the most religiously diverse and multicultural area in the entire country; and if so, if he will recognise that the decision must now be reviewed as it would make the school inaccessible to a huge number of families who could be forced to commute to schools elsewhere. [11798/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The criteria that applied in awarding patronage of the post primary school for Tyrrelstown-Mulhuddart were as announced by me on 27th June 2011. These criteria provided for a greater diversity of school patronage having regard to parental preferences in each area. One of the criteria provided that the new schools would have to accept all pupils from within the areas they are to serve.

The recommendation made by the New Schools Establishment Group was that the Le Chéile Schools Trust patronage model satisfied all of the criteria, and on the basis of the level of parental demand shown for this type of school, should be awarded patronage. I accepted this recommendation and announced my decision to award patronage of the new school to Le Chéile Schools Trust on 25th July, 2012. It is not proposed to review the decision at this stage.