Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 September 2021
264. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the way rates of pay are set for job-sharing SNAs and teachers who substitute in their own schools; the reason there is disparity in the way that members of staff are paid and who is allowed claim expenses; her plans to address this disparity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45814/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provisions related to the Job Sharing Scheme for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are outlined in my Department's Circular Letter 41/2014 titled ‘Job Sharing Scheme for Special Needs Assistants in Recognised Primary and Post-Primary Schools’ and for teachers is contained in Chapter 8 of my Department’s Circular Letter Circular 0054/2019 titled ‘Leave Schemes for Registered Teachers Employed in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools’. In accordance with these circulars, agreed with school management bodies and the relevant trade unions, teachers and SNAs were not permitted to engage in substitute teaching whilst job sharing.
In response to issues raised in relation to supply in schools and the need to minimise movement between schools during the Covid-19 pandemic the restrictions imposed in these circulars have been temporarily suspended for the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 school years allowing teachers and SNAs to work in a substitute capacity on the days that they are not scheduled to work. This was communicated to the relevant school authorities in Information Notes TC 0016/2021 (Teachers) and 0012/2021 (SNAs), which were agreed with school management bodies and the relevant trade unions.
Paragraph 2 of these circulars sets out the pay arrangements. Job sharing SNAs employed in a substitute capacity will be paid the appropriate substitute daily rate of pay with such substitute work being pensionable and counting towards superannuation. Job sharing teachers employed in a substitute capacity will be paid the personal rate of pay (including personal allowances) with such substitute work also being pensionable and counting towards superannuation.
