Mr. Shane Lambert:

On standardising, there are items that need to be updated and reviewed but there is a national standard contract. In many ways, the difficulty can be getting independent schools to adhere to that contract or at least its principles. There is too much flexibility and independence in independent schools that enables them to step outside the terms of the contract. There is very little accountability because of the way the employment relationship is structured with the Department of Education in a kind of tripartite system.

The point about disparities was mentioned and it is important. We have been very clear that we are not saying that just because a particular public service grade gets a benefit or entitlement, it should automatically apply to SNAs. However it should apply to them when there is no objective justification as to why it should not. An example is bereavement leave. SNAs currently receive significantly less bereavement leave compared with that enjoyed by other civil and public servants. There is no difference between the grief an SNA in a school will experience when he or she loses a loved one, whether it be a partner, parent or a member of his or her extended family, and that of a teacher colleague who can get more bereavement leave. However, the teacher and SNA both get less bereavement leave than the civil servant who might be sitting in a Department office. If we want to talk about inclusion, we need to lead by example and eliminate these disparities where they have no justification. If there is a legitimate and objective justification, that is fine and one stands over that principled position.