Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2026
348. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the categories of teachers providing substitution cover who do not have their hours of work set out in their pay slip from her Department; her views on whether this is a breach of the terms of the Payment of Wages Act 1991. [16005/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra349. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the controls that exist within the payroll section of her Department to prevent against the late or irregular payment of wages to teachers providing regular substitution cover and to prevent against the payment of the wrong pay rate. [16006/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra350. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason teachers who have taken carers leave and are providing regular part-time substitution cover appear to be treated discriminately relative to all other category of teachers; and if she can clarify if this is a breach of the Carer’s Leave Act 2001. [16007/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra351. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a person (details supplied) has been paid late and irregularly between the period November 2024 and February 2026; the reason her Department has no controls in place to identify that they were paid the incorrect rate for six months; and if they will be paid on a regular basis, at the correct rate with immediate effect. [16008/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 348, 349, 350 and 351 together.
The school is the direct employer of teachers and the Payroll Division of my Department provides the payroll service to over 3,700 schools. The Department is not aware of what teacher is employed in the schools until such time as the claims for payment are submitted by schools. This is the situation regardless of whether a person is in full-time or casual/part-time employment.
In order to ensure prompt and efficient payment, the Payroll Division relies on the schools to submit information in a timely manner. The submission of information by schools are done in a couple of ways, firstly via an Online claims system (OLCS) portal and also by submitting information directly using a customer service form. Schools are regularly reminded in a number of ways to ensure that claims for payments should be submitted in a timely manner.
A teacher who is availing of carers leave is considered to be “in service” and should the teacher work in a casual/part-time capacity whilst on carers leave, the school is required to submit the details for payment using the customer service form. Payment is prompt regardless of the method of transferring information to the Department.
A full review was undertaken by my staff of the days paid and the rate of pay for the teacher referred to and the arrears due are being paid on Thursday 26th February. The teacher is on the correct rate of pay.
My department is currently upgrading its current payroll system and this will be rolled out on a phased basis to all four payrolls over the next two and a half years. A self-service module will be provided to teachers, and this will provide teachers with improved visibility regarding the schools submitting claims for payments and payments date.
