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School Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 March 2015

Tuesday, 24 March 2015

Ceisteanna (768)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

768. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current arrangement for part-time auxiliary staff, including caretakers who are employed in primary schools in County Donegal; if they have a contract with her Department, Donegal Vocational Education Committee or any other State body; if they are entitled to benefits such as sick pay, holiday pay and pensions; if they have specific conditions and rates of pay or if that is decided on an individual basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11280/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Schemes were initiated in 1978 and 1979 for the employment of Clerical Officers and Caretakers in primary and secondary schools. While a small number of these staff remain in schools, the schemes are being phased out and have been superseded by a more extensive grant scheme. The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme now receive capitation grant assistance to provide for caretaking and/or secretarial services. Within the capitation grant schemes, it is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs and the Department does not stipulate how caretaking and/or secretarial services are to be obtained. Where a school uses the grant funding to employ a caretaker and/or secretary, such staff are employees of individual schools. My Department therefore does not have any role in determining the pay and conditions under which they are engaged. These are matters to be agreed between the staff concerned and the school authorities.

Caretakers and secretaries employed by schools using grant funding are not regarded as public servants except for the purposes of the pay reduction under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No.2) Act 2009, due to the definition of "public servant" used in that Act. The fact that such staff come within the definition of "public servant" solely for the purposes of the Act does not alter their employment status in any other respect.

Caretaking and administrative staff employed in Education and Training Boards (ETBs) are employees of the relevant ETB. Any queries in respect of such staff should be directed to the relevant employer.

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