Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for seeking members of the public to undertake supervision and substitution at pay levels higher than existing teachers undertaking this work. [35180/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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ASTI's decision to withdraw, with effect from 7 November, from supervising yards and corridors at breaktimes, lunchtimes and before and after school posed a serious risk for health and safety in schools.

In such circumstances, my Department had an obligation to do everything possible to put in place alternative arrangements for supervision and substitution so as to keep the maximum possible number of schools open.

My Department, in conjunction with the school management bodies – JMB, ETBI and ACCS, implemented contingency plans to support any schools that might have been in a position to remain open during the period when teachers withdrew from S&S duties.  

The contingency plans involved schools recruiting external personnel to supervise pupils on the school premises, in classrooms and the school yard.  

External Supervisors recruited prior to 1 January 2011 are paid at an hourly rate of €21.31 and those recruited on or after 1 January 2011 are paid an hourly rate of €19.18 - both of which are less than the hourly rate of a new entrant teacher recruited on or after 1 February 2012 who is subject to FEMPI legislation which is €42.19.