Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 89: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if part-time teachers who have not been given permanent contracts have access to a pension scheme; if she has made arrangements for such persons to contribute to a personal retirement savings account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47087/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Pension arrangements for primary, secondary, community and comprehensive teachers are governed by statutory superannuation provisions. Under these provisions admission to the pension schemes is mandatory for teachers, including permanent, temporary, part-time and substitute teachers, appointed to approved teaching positions in schools who are paid salary, out of monies voted by the Oireachtas, through the Payroll operated by my Department. A number of part-time teachers who are employed by management authorities and paid by grant to the school, will from January 2011 be paid through my Department's payroll and will contribute to the pension scheme from then. Provision is being made to enable these teachers to reckon past part-time service for pension purposes subject to the usual terms and conditions including the payment of appropriate contributions.

Apart from the circumstances outlined above, where part-time teachers are paid by grant to the school, it is a matter for the management authority of the empoying school to make provision for access to a Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA) for such personnel. The management authority is not required to contribute to a PRSA.