Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, in respect of sub-head C4 of the revised Estimates for 2008 dedicated to salaries of non-teaching staff in primary schools, including special needs assistants, caretakers and school secretaries and clerical officers, he has agreed at national or local level the rates of pay and the terms and conditions of their employment; the number of people at present employed in these employments in respect of each category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19726/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The purpose of the C4 provision in the Estimates is to meet the costs of salary, employer's PRSI contributions, substitution and pensions for Special Needs Assistants in primary schools. The costs of salary, employers contributions and pension costs of the caretakers and clerical officers employed in primary schools under a scheme introduced in 1978 are also met from the sub-head. Special needs assistants employed in primary and second level schools and paid fortnightly and have a common incremental pay scale.

Special needs assistants are awarded the general pay increases but are subject to adherence to the terms of the various agreements. In the case of the recent 2.5% increase from the 1st March, 2008, it was necessary to obtain verification of co-operation of the SNA grade with flexibility and ongoing change, satisfactory implementation of the agenda for modernisation, maintenance of stable industrial relations and absence of industrial action in respect of the matters covered by the Towards 2016 agreement. Clerical Officers and caretakers employed under the 1978 scheme are paid fortnightly. The pay scales are approved by the Department, with the sanction of the Department of Finance, and attract national pay awards. There are incremental scales for these caretakers and clerical officers. Both the clerical officers and caretakers are awarded general pay increases but are also subject to the terms of the agreements that I referred for the special needs assistants.

Discussions on terms and conditions of service for special needs assistants are held with the relevant unions on an ongoing basis. The managerial bodies of schools also participate in these discussions. Agreements exist for special needs assistants in relation to contracts of employment, pension scheme, hours of work, length of working year, school holidays, seniority in school and redundancy terms. There were 8,241 special need assistant equivalents employed in primary schools in March 2008. 198 Clerical Officers and Caretakers respectively were employed under the 1978 scheme and paid on the payroll in March 2008 in primary schools.

The 1978 scheme was replaced by the ancillary services grant scheme. Under this grant scheme, the amount paid to an individual school is determined by the enrolment in the school. It is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the funding to suit the school's particular needs. The C4 sub-head does not cover the cost of secretaries and caretakers employed by schools under the ancillary grant scheme.