Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost per annum of 227 special needs assistants posts. [27682/11]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the net cost per annum, after increased tax revenue and reduced social protection costs of 227 special needs assistants posts. [27683/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together.

Special Needs Assistants are paid on 12 point salary scale ranging from €23,188 to €35,919 for those whose first appointment was prior to 1st January 2011 (full details in Circular 05/2010 hereunder). For those Special Needs Assistants whose first appointment was on or after 1st January 2011, the salary scale ranges from €20,869 to €32,327 (full details in Circular 41/2011 hereunder).

All Special Needs Assistants commence employment at the first point of the relevant salary scale and move up one point for each year of service. After 3 years on the maximum of the scale, Special Needs Assistants receive a Long Service Increment of €1,420 if their first appointment was prior to 1st January 2011 or €1,278 if their first appointment was on or after 1st January 2011.

It is not possibly to accurately provide the net cost of salary for 226 Special Needs Assistants. This is because the rate at which statutory deductions such as income tax, PRSI and Universal Social Charge are deducted are individual to each Special Needs Assistant depending on their individual circumstances.

I am presuming the Deputy is referring to the posts which were absorbed within the cap for Special Needs Assistants following the successful transition of 13 pilot ABA schools (226 posts). These posts operated outside of the Employment Control Framework limits set for the SNA post prior to being fully recognised special schools within the state education system. In order to successfully accommodate these new schools, which are a welcome addition to the growing diversity of provision for children with special educational needs, it was necessary to absorb these 226 posts within the cap imposed by the EU/IMF Memorandum of Understanding. The alternative would have been to not recognise these 13 pilot schools and to deny them the support and recognition which they deserve.

Circular 0005/2010

To the Management Authorities of Primary, Secondary,

Community and Comprehensive Schools and

the Chief Executive Officer of each Vocational Education Committee

Revision of Salaries for Special Needs Assistants with effect from 1 January 2010

1. The Minister for Education and Science wishes to inform Vocational Education Committees, Management Authorities and Special Needs Assistants of the application of revised rates of salary with effect from 1 January 2010.

2. The new rates of salary and allowances have been introduced as a result of the application in the education sector of pay reductions with effect from 1st January 2010 in accordance with the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 (No. 41 of 2009) (The "Act").

3. In accordance with the Act, reductions in basic salary have been applied with effect from 1st January 2010 as follows:-

a. 5% on the first €30,000 of salary;

b. 7.5% on the next €40,000 of salary;

c. 10% on the next €55,000 of salary;

d. This formula produces overall reductions in salaries ranging from 5% to 8% in the case of salaries up to €125,000.

4. The revised salary scales are set out in a schedule to this circular on this Department's website at www.education.ie under Education Personnel/Payroll.

5. Vocational Education Committees and management authorities are requested to bring the contents of this Circular to the attention of all Special Needs Assistants in their school and also to the members of the Board of Management.

P. Maloney

Principal Officer.

January 2010.

View Salary Scales View Pay Rates

Circular 0041/2011

Circular 0041/2011

Circular 0041/2011

Introduction

1. The Minister for Education and Skills wishes to inform vocational education committees, management bodies and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) of the application of revised rates of salary for new appointees as SNAs from 1 January 2011 onwards.

2. As part of Budget 2011 the Government has applied a 10% reduction in the pay of new entrants to the public service (referred to in this Circular as "new appointees") and all new appointees to the entry grades of the public service must start at the first point of the relevant pay scale with effect from 1 January 2011.

Application of new pay rates

3. The revised pay scale for SNAs is set out in an Appendix to this Circular and can be accessed by clicking here.

New appointee to the SNA Grade

4. The new pay rates apply to all SNAs who are new appointees appointed on or after 1 January 2011.

5. Where a person gave service as an SNA before 1 January 2011 (including those currently on an approved leave of absence), s/he will not be regarded as a new appointee. In addition, a person with a written offer of employment before 1 January 2011 will not be regarded as a new appointee. In these cases, the person will be assigned to the appropriate pre-1 January 2011 scale and

allowances, and incremental credit for previous SNA service and other experience which is deemed relevant will be awardable.

6. Where an SNA who is retired and is in receipt of a pension returns to the position of an SNA on or after 1 January 2011, s/he will start on the first point of the post 1 January 2011 incremental salary scale.

Incremental credit

7. All new appointees to SNA positions will start on the first point of the incremental salary scale. The Government has decided that all new appointees to entry grades (subject to the criteria set out above) will start at the minimum point of the new reduced scale.

8. However, incremental credit may continue to apply for relevant recognised service. Similarly, those who leave the system will be able to reckon such previous relevant service on re-entry.

Circulation

9. Please ensure that copies of this Circular are provided to the Board of Management/Vocational Education Committee and its contents are brought to the attention of all SNAs in your employment including those on leave of absence.

10. This Circular can be accessed on the Department's website under http://www.education.ie.

11. All enquiries regarding this Circular should be e-mailed to teachersna@education.gov.ie OR payroll@education.gov.ie.

Dalton Tattan Padraig Maloney

Principal Officer Principal Officer

Teachers/SNAs Terms and Conditions Section Payroll Division

June 2011 June 2011

June 2011 June 2011

June 2011 June 2011

2011

Special Needs Assistants (New Appointees post 1/1/11)

Point 1 €20,869

Point 2 €21,850

Point 3 €22,826

Point 4 €23,807

Point 5 €24,788

Point 6 €25,763

Point 7 €26,715

Point 8 €27,664

Point 9 €28,620

Point 10 €29,571

Point 11 €30,527

Point 12 €32,327

Long Service Increment €33,605

Part Time Hourly Rates (New Recruits post 1/1/11)

Point 1 €12.50

Point 2 €13.09

Point 3 €13.67

Point 4 €14.26

Point 5 €14.85

Point 6 €15.43

Point 7 €16.00

Point 8 €16.57

Point 9 €17.14

Point 10 €17.71

Point 11 €18.28

Point 12 €19.36

LSI €20.13

LSI €20.13

LSI €20.13

I am a new SNA who has never worked as an SNA before – Which pay scale will I start on?

Only service given as an SNA pre-1 January 2011 will count as prior service for eligibility for pre-2011 pay scales. If you have not served in an SNA position before 1 January 2011 you will be offered a contract at the new pay rates and conditions. No incremental credit is awarded for any training prior to entry to the position of SNA.

I am an SNA who worked in Ireland as an SNA in 2001 but I have been in the UK for the past number of years – Which pay scale will I start on?

You worked in an SNA position prior to 1 January 2011. You will therefore be offered a contract at pre-2011 pay rates and conditions. Your work in the UK may be reckonable for incremental credit purposes.

I am an SNA who worked in the EU for the past number of years. I have never worked in a SNA position in the public service in Ireland but am due to start in May 2011 – Which pay scale will I start on?

You are a new appointee to the SNA position in Ireland. You will begin on the first point of the January 2011 pay scale. Employment in another country prior to your first entry to the position of SNA in Ireland may be reckonable subject to certain conditions.

I am an SNA who has prior public sector experience as a Nurse. I will begin as an SNA in May 2011 – Which pay scale will I start on?

You are a new appointee to the position of SNA. You will therefore be offered a contract at January 2011 pay rates and conditions. This applies also to SNAs who are moving to take up a post in other positions (eg teachers, administrators, etc). You may be entitled to certain incremental credit in respect of your service as a Nurse.

I have been employed as an SNA in the private sector for 5 years. I will begin as an SNA in the public sector in May 2011 – What will my starting salary be?

You are a new appointee under the recent Government Decision. You will therefore be offered a contract at the first point of the January 2011 pay rates and conditions. You may be entitled to incremental credit in respect of your private sector service, subject to certain conditions.

I am an SNA who was employed with a Vocational Education Committee since September 2005. I resigned from my post with the VEC in November 2010. I expect to take up an SNA post in a Voluntary Secondary school in September 2011. Which pay scale will I be paid on?

You worked in the position of SNA prior to 1 January 2011. You will therefore be offered a contract at pre-2011 pay rates and conditions if you resume work as an SNA in a voluntary secondary school in September 2011. Your service with the VEC will be reckonable for incremental credit purposes.