Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 June 2014
78. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason teachers working under the July provision are not paid until November; if any scheme is in place to give these teachers interim payments or if the July provision rules can be changed in order that teachers can be fully paid before the end of August; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27601/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe July Education Programme is available to all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism that choose to extend their education services through the month of July. The programme is also available for pupils with a severe/profound general learning disability. Where a school chooses not to extend their services for July, all eligible children will be granted home based July provision, on application. This year's common pay date of 6th November 2014 is well advertised prior to the start of the July Education Programme.
In 2013, 167 schools with 2,523 staff offered 2,791 children the July Education Programme in addition to 3,471 children who availed of the home based programme. The Deputy will appreciate therefore, that the major proportion of administrative work is devoted to processing these claims for payment. Staffing resources have been assigned to process payments as speedily as possible. The certainty granted to parents and tutors with a fixed payment date increases efficiency in this regard, as staff will be able to channel their efforts into processing payments rather that dealing with numerous queries on payment dates. This decision was made after consideration of available staffing resources within the Department and there are no plans to change from this arrangement.
