Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 521: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the introduction of the proposed pension scheme for full-time primary school caretakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6465/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Caretaking staff in schools are employed by the individual school authorities. My Department provides funding under two separate schemes towards the cost of employing these staff. One such scheme is the 1979 scheme for the employment of full-time caretakers in primary schools under which my Department meets the full cost of pay.

In 2006 I introduced, with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance, pension arrangements for caretaking staff employed under the 1979 Scheme. These arrangements provide that membership of the pension scheme will be effective from 1 September 2001 in the case of eligible caretakers in service at that time. The pension scheme will be a contributory, defined benefit scheme and will provide standard public service pension benefits.

Deduction of ongoing contributions commenced from eligible personnel with effect from 7 March 2006. Arrears of contributions are payable in respect of the period from 1 September 2001 to the date ongoing deductions commenced, or the date membership ended if earlier. Eligible staff will be notified in due course of the arrears due in respect of that period. In accordance with standard public service arrangements, there is also provision for reckoning service given prior to 1 September 2001 subject to verification of the service concerned and payment of the appropriate contributions.

Eligible staff and school authorities were informed of the introduction of the pension scheme prior to the commencement of deductions from pay. A circular setting out further details regarding the scheme is being finalised and will be issued in the coming months.

The calculation of retirement pension and retirement gratuity for a small number of eligible caretakers, who were in service on or after 1 September 2001 and who have recently retired, is currently under way in my Department. It is expected that the first such payment will be made in the coming weeks.

The 1979 Scheme is being phased out. It has been superseded by an extensive grant scheme now referred to as the Ancillary Services grant. The Ancillary Services grant provides funding for primary schools towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services. The Scheme, by its nature, is flexible and gives boards of management discretion as to the manner in which secretarial and caretaking services are provided. Staff engaged by schools under the Ancillary Services grant are paid by the managerial authorities of the schools and are non-pensionable.