Written answers
Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Department of Education and Skills
School Staff
Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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524. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the changes made to school secretaries' pay in the last Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46551/24]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Since September 2023, the department is providing a payroll service for previously grant funded Secretaries. This provision is part of a package agreed with Fórsa, the trade union representing school secretaries, following a series of engagements at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and also includes revised terms and conditions for secretaries. The Agreement however did not grant school secretaries with public servant status and therefore there is no pension scheme in place for school secretaries employed under the new terms and conditions of employment as outlined in Circular 0036/2020.
Each school remains the employer of school secretaries and it is their obligation to provide access to a PRSA scheme for employees. For secretaries who are paid through the department-administered payroll, a facility is now being offered to join a PRSA scheme administered by Cornmarket with contributions being deducted at source. Should secretaries wish to avail of this option, they can contact Cornmarket directly – the participation of individuals in any scheme is a matter between the individual and the service provider.
The department moved School Secretaries’ pay rates to a scale which is aligned with the Clerical Officer Grade III pay scale within education and training boards on a pro rata basis. Pay rates were pro rata according to a secretary’s current working pattern. Secretaries have been included in the national pay agreement and as such will receive pay increases in line with public servants. My department also offered to improve the conditions for School Secretaries with regard to sick leave, annual leave, and maternity provisions.
Part of the work to on-board school secretaries to my department’s payroll, involved the development of a formal model for the allocation of secretary posts other than Department-sanctioned secretaries in Community and Comprehensive schools and those employed under the 1978/1979 scheme. Schools seeking additional secretarial resources or who wish to employ a secretary for the first time are considered on a case-by-case basis.
The department engages with Fórsa and additional terms and conditions have been sought for this cohort of staff. However, any such claims, especially those with additional cost implications, must be carefully considered by the Department, in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and in line with the existing industrial relations processes.
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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525. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding incremental credit for teachers who have gained experience working in private schools outside of the European Union; how this cohort can access incremental credit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46563/24]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department of Education’s Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, and 29/2007 and 29/2010 for Post-Primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC).
These circulars provide for the award of incremental credit in respect of overseas teaching service, both within and outside the EU. Where a school satisfies the criteria set out in the circulars to have service at that school recognised for incremental credit, an award of incremental credit can be made.
Criteria such as whether the school is subject to state funding, which can be of particular relevance when examining claims relating to private teaching schools, and the length of time the school has been in existence, must be satisfied in order for service at that school to be recognised for incremental credit.
Where schools do not satisfy the required criteria, then service at that school cannot be considered towards incremental credit. Teachers must be on the Department of Education’s teacher payroll or teaching in an Education and Training Board school before an application can be processed.
The criteria for the award of incremental credit for teachers are subject to review by way of an incremental credit committee, which is a sub-committee of the Teachers Conciliation Council, and which meets on an ongoing basis.
Through the Teachers Conciliation Council, the teacher unions have lodged a claim concerning the recognition of private post primary teaching service outside the EU towards the award of incremental credit.
The department examined this request as part of the 2025 budgetary process. However, it was not possible to secure funding to progress this request through the 2025 budgetary process.
The department is continuing to examine ways in which the matter may be progressed in the future.
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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526. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if teachers with experience in private schools outside the European Union are eligible to apply for assistant principal roles. [46564/24]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The eligibility criteria for appointment to an Assistant Principal post is set out in Chapter 3 of Circular 0044/2019 for the primary sector and Circular 0003/2018 for the post primary sector.
4.1 of Chapter 3 of Circular 0044/2019 advises that "All appropriately qualified permanent and fixed term teachers serving in a recognised primary school are eligible to apply for Assistant Principal posts."
Circular 0003/2018 advises "To be eligible to apply for leadership posts in post-primary schools, applicants must be:
Assistant Principal I and Programme Co-ordinator (AP I level) :
• fully registered under Route 2 for voluntary schools and C&C schools, Route 2 or 3 in the ETB sector and
• have a minimum of 3 years teaching service recognised by DES/ ETB for incremental credit purposes
Assistant Principal II and Programme Co-ordinator (AP II level):
• fully registered under Route 2 for voluntary schools and C&C schools, route 2 or 3 in the ETB sector and
• have a minimum of 1 years teaching service recognised by DES/ ETB for incremental credit purposes"
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