Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 566: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she will sanction a pension scheme for staff of the National Educational Welfare Board; the entitlements of the staff in the absence of a scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21305/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The pension scheme for staff of the National Educational Welfare Board, NEWB, is at present being operated on an administrative basis pending approval a draft superannuation scheme for the board. The pension arrangements of the staff are in accordance with the model scheme of the Department of Finance.

The model scheme, which is a standard public service scheme, needs to be updated to take account of the Protection of Employees (Part-time Work) Act 2001. It has not been possible to complete this work to date because discussions between union groups and management groups in the public service regarding the implementation of the Act have not been completed.

Discussions are now at an advanced stage and it is expected that a circular giving full effect to the pensions provisions of the Part-time Work Act will be shortly issued by the Department of Finance. The formal approval of the Department of Finance will then be sought for the draft NEWB scheme, as updated to take account of the necessary provisions for part-time workers.

Special provision will be made in the NEWB scheme — and such provision is regularly required when new schemes are being introduced — for the school attendance officers who have transferred, in accordance with section 40 of the Education (Welfare) Act, to the NEWB from employment by local authorities. The superannuation arrangements of the staff in question will not be less favourable than the arrangements which applied to them under the local government superannuation scheme.