Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State. The issue I wish to raise is the need for the Minister for Education and Skills to review the situation whereby public servants would be entitled to more days off to attend local council meetings. There is an increased requirement for public representatives, many of whom are involved in the education system, to attend not only council meetings but also the new municipal district meetings, in addition to other meetings related to the council. They should be afforded more flexibility and more time off from their work to attend those meetings on behalf of their constituents.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Gabh mo leithscéal as bheith déanach, ach bhí mé gnóthach in áit éigin eile. I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn. The current position is that where a teacher in a primary or post-primary school is an elected member of a local authority, paid absence of up to ten school days in a school year may be availed of in order to attend meetings, but only where such meetings are held during school opening hours. Prior approval must be obtained from the employer, who, in approving any such leave, must take into consideration the welfare and educational needs of the students.

The terms and conditions applying to teacher absences are agreed under the auspices of the Teacher Conciliation Council, a body established in accordance with the terms of the conciliation and arbitration scheme for teachers. The council is composed of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is chaired by an official of the Labour Relations Commission. Teacher Conciliation Council meetings are held six times per year, with sub-committees held as required to discuss issues in more detail. It is open to either side to request the placing of any matter on the agenda. Implicit in this is the question of when council meetings are held. Whether one is a teacher or not, it is very hard to attend a morning or afternoon meeting if one is in full-time employment. There is an issue with regard to work hours and meetings being held that people cannot attend because they are working. Holding meetings at night or at other times, or staggering or changing the days or the times, is probably the only way of dealing with it. I accept it is a problem but in this case it should be raised at the conciliation council.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for attending and giving me valuable information on how to make progress on this issue.