Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 1305: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she proposes to provide basic rights to long serving substitutes and temporary teachers in the primary school system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29026/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to unqualified personnel. The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill vacancies in an individual primary school is a matter for the Board of Management of the school concerned. It is the policy of my Department that unqualified personnel should only be employed in exceptional circumstances and when all avenues for recruiting qualified personnel have been exhausted.

Persons who serve as unqualified temporary or substitute teachers are entitled to holiday pay which is paid by my Department. Payment is made in accordance with the terms of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997. The forum for dealing with claims for improvements to the conditions of service for teachers is the Teachers Conciliation Council.

My officials have been engaged in discussions with the education partners, with the guidance of a Facilitator, to consider the implementation of the Protection of Employees (Fixed Term) Act, 2003 in the context of the employment of fixed term workers. These discussions will address the conditions of service, including sick pay, of fixed term teachers. Boards of Management will be advised on the outcome of these discussions when finalised.

Provision exists for the reckoning for pension purposes of substitute service given as a qualified teacher where that service reaches specific thresholds. This provision applies to substitute service given since 1991. The service may be reckoned following appointment to a permanent teaching post and is subject to the payment of appropriate pension contributions. Arrangements are currently being made, following discussions with the INTO and having regard to recent pension reforms, for the reckonability of substitute service given prior to 1991, whether the teacher was qualified or unqualified at the time the service was given. Similarly, it is proposed that service given in a temporary unqualified capacity will also be pensionable. A circular which will set out the detailed arrangements is in course of preparation and it is expected that it will be issued to schools in the coming months.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 1306: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a special needs assistant will continue at a school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29027/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has agreed to the retention of special needs assistant support for the child in question until the end of October, 2006. The matter will be considered in the interim and a decision will be conveyed to the school authorities as quickly as possible.