Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there is a differential between the rate of pay for special needs assistant €88.50 and teacher/lay persons €112.04 who act as readers for State examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47333/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Duties such as assisting students and acting as reader / scribe for a student who is doing a state examination form part of the normal duties of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and attract no additional payment. However, some students require a special centre to complete their examinations. It is the policy of the State Examinations Commission (SEC) that a Superintendent be present for all State Examinations centres. There are specific rules governing this role as set out by the SEC.

The SEC acknowledges that school authorities are in the best position to put the arrangements in place to cater for the needs of individual candidates for whom the use of a special centre has been approved. These arrangements include the appointment of superintendents to these special centres.

This rate was settled in an agreement reached with the Unions representing SNAs in 2008, and has regard to the fact that the normal duties of an SNA include acting as scribe or reader with children with special education needs. In addition the agreed contract of employment provides that SNAs are required to work the month of June on examinations or other work appropriate to the grade.