Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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222. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that some principals who act as secretary to the Board of Management in their school receive the allowance for principals who act as secretary to the Board of Management, while other principals in this position receive the larger secretary Board of Management allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58638/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Secretary to Board of Management allowance was introduced in 2007 following an agreement reached at the Teachers Conciliation Council (Agreed Report 3/06). This agreement followed a recommendation of the Teachers Arbitration Board in 2003 that an allowance should be put in place for all Principals who carry out work as Secretary outside of normal working hours.

Prior to the 2007 TCC agreement, six Principals of Comprehensive schools received an allowance for acting as secretary to the board, as did seven CEOs of VECs. The payment was introduced in the 1960s for the additional duties involved and was limited only to this category of recipients.

Following the 2007 agreement, the Secretary to the Board of Management Allowance was payable in one of 5 categories based on student enrolment in the school. The potential cost of implementing the allowance at the previous allowance rate payable to all school Principals was estimated to be in the region of €10.6 million per annum.

The duties of a Secretary to a Board of Management include setting the agenda for meetings and recording minutes, dealing with Board of Management correspondence, providing information to members concerning Board of Management rights and responsibilities and advance development of school policies. The duty is optional and where the Principal does not act as Secretary, the Board elects a Secretary from its other members – no allowance is payable to that Secretary.

Following the outcome of the review of allowances and premium payments (September 2012) by the department of Public Expenditure and Reform, this allowance has been abolished save for those who are already in receipt of the allowance.