Education staff warned of major changes to work practices

THE DEPARTMENT of Finance has warned there will have to be “real reform” of work practices in the education sector if significant savings are to be generated.

It also signalled “the myriad allowances” paid to staff would be key to delivering savings.

In a briefing document drawn up for Minister for Finance Michael Noonan, department officials state that reforms being implemented as part of the Croke Park agreement in the education sector will generate only about €39 million. The note says this represents less than half of 1 per cent of total education spending.

“Significant further savings must be targeted through real reform of work practices across the sector, if the target of €379 million in further savings from new measures by 2014 is to be achieved.”

The Croke Park deal provides for the provision of one additional hour per week by teachers as well as co-operation by staff with public service reform initiatives including the restructuring and rationalisation of State entities/institutions and the proposed new arrangements for redeployment of surplus staff across the public service.

The deal also allows for a comprehensive review of all the main employment contracts in the sector including those of teachers, special needs assistants, VEC personnel and academic staff.

This is not included in the measures projected to generate the €39 million savings outlined in the document.

The briefing note says given that 77 per cent of expenditure in education is accounted for by pay – mainly for teachers and special needs assistants – and given the limited scope for a reduction in the numbers employed in the sector if pupil/teacher ratios are to be maintained, “the key to achieving significant savings in the education area is through changes in work practices and myriad allowances that would deliver savings”.

The note says of all non-pay expenditure in the education sector almost €1.4 billion of the total €1.9 billion is spent on student support grants, universities/institutes of technology school capitation grants, VECs and school transport.