John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 464: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in Dublin 4 has applied for a new teacher; if they will be assisted in any way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40508/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that correspondence was received in relation to the staffing in the school referred to by the Deputy.

The mainstream staffing of a primary school for a particular school year is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on the 30th September of the previous school year and by reference to a staffing schedule. This staffing schedule for the 2006/07 school year is outlined in Primary Circular 0023/2006 which was issued to all primary schools.

Based on an enrolment of 224 pupils on the 30th September 2005, as submitted by the Board of Management of the school in question, the staffing warranted for the 2006/2007 school year is a Principal and 8 mainstream class teachers.

Within the terms of the current staffing arrangements for primary schools there is provision for additional posts, referred to as developing school posts, to be assigned to schools on the basis of projected enrolments for the next school year.

A developing school is defined as a school where the enrolment on 30 September of one year is projected to exceed the enrolment on 30 September of the previous year by a specified minimum numerical increase and by having an excess of 5 pupils above the required appointment figure.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school has secured a developing school post for the 2006/2007 school year based on the enrolment of 256 pupils as submitted by the Board of Management of the school on the 30th September 2006.

The school also has the services of 1 Permanent DAS teacher, 3 Temporary Language Support teachers, 1 Permanent Learning Support/ Resource teacher and 7.5 part-time hours of resource teaching support under the General Allocation Scheme.

The school is included in DEIS Urban Band 2 which entitles it to additional supports, including additional funding, access to home/school/liaison services and the schools meals programmes and access to a range of professional development supports.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 465: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the plight of long serving substitute and temporary teachers in the primary sector; if having regard to their long years of service to the system, consideration will be given towards acknowledging their position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40513/06]

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.

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.

Arrangements are currently being made, having regard to recent pension reforms, for the admission to pensionable service of persons who are employed in schools as unqualified teachers. Admission is with effect from 1 September, 2001 in the case of persons in service at that date or date of appointment if later. The detailed arrangements are being finalised and will also include provision for such teachers to reckon service given prior to 1 September, 2001 as pensionable subject to payment of appropriate contributions. The arrangement will apply to wholetime unqualified teachers and in the case of unqualified part-time teachers who have corresponding wholetime equivalents.