Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

128. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the position with regard to teachers who are job-sharing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28022/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The terms and conditions of the Job Sharing Scheme for Teachers are contained in my Department’s Circular Letter 0075/2015. These terms and conditions have been 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 composed of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission.

Paragraph 2. of the Circular sets out the provisions as regards school policy in relation to job sharing arrangements and states:

2.1 Each employer shall develop and maintain a policy statement specific to the needs of the school in relation to the approval of job sharing arrangements.

2.2 It is a matter for the employer to decide the time-sharing arrangement(s) which it is prepared to endorse e.g. week on /week off, split week. Post-Primary employers, for example, may require a job sharing teacher to be timetabled over 5 days per week. Subject to the exercise by the employer of its responsibility in this regard, timetable arrangements for job sharing teachers should be designed within the spirit of the scheme to facilitate the teacher, so far as is practicable.

2.3 In drawing up this policy, the welfare and educational needs of the pupils shall take precedence over all other considerations.

'Employer’ means an Education and Training Board (ETB) for vocational schools/community colleges and a Board of Management/Manager in the case of primary, voluntary secondary, community and comprehensive schools.