Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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1413. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on sick leave provisions at preschool and primary school level (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34402/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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With the exception of the Early Start programme which operates in primary schools, preschool provision is administered by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

Staff of preschools are employed by the service provider who sets the terms and conditions of employment. My Department has no role in determining the terms and conditions of employment of staff in preschools.

The Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Act 2013, provided the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with the power to make regulations that set out the specific details of a Public Service Sick Leave Scheme. Following a review of sick leave arrangements and binding Labour Court Recommendation No. LCR20335, Regulations for a new Public Service wide Sick Leave Scheme came into operation on 31st March 2014. These Regulations came into operation for teachers on 01 September 2014 and are outlined in Circular 59/2014.

Circular 59/2014 was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers' Conciliation Council, a body established in accordance with the terms of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for Teachers. The Council is comprised of Representatives of Teachers, School Management, Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Public Enterprise and Reform and chaired by an official of the Labour Relations Commission.

The Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2016 (Haddington Road Agreement) provides that, with effect from the beginning of the 2013/14 school year, participation in the Supervision Scheme is compulsory for all primary teachers. All primary teachers are required to provide 43 hours supervision per annum and this includes substitution for all uncertified sick leave absences from the 1st September 2013 and substitution for the first day of force majeure/illness in family leave from the commencement of the 2014/15 school year. The full terms of these arrangements are set out in Circular 33/2013.

The terms of Departmental Circulars are implemented by the managerial authorities of all primary schools and are of general application to all teachers.