Press release
Minister Foley welcomes agreement on use of Sectoral Bargaining Fund in the Primary Teaching Sector
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Education Norma Foley today welcomed agreement on the use of the Sectoral Bargaining Fund under Building Momentum in the Primary Teaching Sector.
The Department of Education and the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) have been engaging on the use of the fund and a circular outlining the use of the fund has issued today. Sectoral bargaining was an element of the national pay agreement, Building Momentum, and provides for the establishment of a sectoral fund amounting to 1% of basic pay to resolve outstanding issues, with a payment date of 1 February 2022.
The INTO had opted to use the fund to settle a number of outstanding claims. These are outlined in detail in the Circular but in summary relate to:
1. An increase in Part-Time Hourly /Daily Rates – the increase to the part-time hourly rates payable to new entrants to teaching will bring them into line with rates for other teachers.
2. The Payment of a Secure Unit Allowance (Disturbed Adult Allowance) be paid in respect of teachers who work in certain Secure Units/Secure Care settings.
3. Implementation of the Recommendation from the 2nd Public Service Benchmarking Body Report in respect of Principals and Deputy Principals. The settlement of this recommendation provides for an increase in the allowance payable by moving up two categories on the scale of allowances for Principals and Deputy Principals in schools with 1 to 5 authorised posts. It also provides for an increase in the allowance payable by moving up one category on the scale of allowances paid to Principals and Deputy Principals in schools with between 6 and 35 authorised posts.
4. Amendment to Principals Allowance for Large Primary Schools. The Benchmarking Body report also provided for an extension of the 11 categories of allowances at primary level for Principals/ Deputy Principals. The settlement of the matter will provide for an extension of the categories of allowance payable in Primary schools from the current cap of 36+ authorised posts to include revised categories of authorised posts of 36-40, 41-50, 51-60 and 61+ posts.
5. Implementation of an Allowance for 2nd Teacher in Two-Teacher School. The settlement of this claim provides for the second teacher in two-teacher mainstream schools (and no other authorised posts), to receive an allowance equivalent to that of a Deputy Principal.
In noting the INTO’s decisions, Minister Foley said:
“I welcome the decision of the INTO to opt to use the sectoral bargaining fund to settle outstanding priority claims. This was the intention behind the concept of sectoral bargaining agreed in the national pay talks which allows for unions to decide on how best to use the fund in terms of their member’s priorities.”
Further circulars will issue outlining the agreed outcome on any remaining outstanding claims or awards which will be dealt with under the provisions of the Sectoral Bargaining Fund.