The following clarification in regard to Circular Letter 0071/2016 has been issued by the Department of Education and Skills.
TUI members who opted out of the S&S scheme should note, in particular, the final paragraph of the clarification.
Such teachers, as the clarification indicates, should complete the form in the Appendix to the Circular as soon as possible in order to ensure that they remain on the payroll and avoid deductions in pay in the event that their schools are closed as a result of the withdrawal by members of the ASTI from supervision and Substitution duties.
Circular Letter 0071/2016 – text of DES clarification issued on Friday, 28th October 2016
The form in the appendix to circular 0071/2016 should be completed by all teachers in all schools affected by the ASTI withdrawal from supervision and substitution duties i.e. those teachers employed in Voluntary Secondary schools, certain Community and Comprehensive Schools, certain Designated Community Colleges and other dual-union schools.
Supervision and substitution duties are compulsory for all teachers since the Haddington Road Agreement. A limited group of teachers were allowed to opt-out of the duties in return for a pay reduction. The ASTI directive instructs members to withdraw from the Supervision and Substitution Scheme. The opt-out is an element of the S&S scheme and ASTI have directed all members to withdraw from that scheme. Therefore, the ‘opt-out’ provided for under the scheme will not apply to ASTI members who are subject to their directive.
In the case of teachers who are not members of ASTI and who opted out of the S&S scheme, their opt-out from supervision and substitution duties is still in place. Such teachers should therefore complete the form in the appendix to CL 0071/2016 and return it as instructed, stating clearly on the form that they are not a member of ASTI and therefore still have a valid opt out from S&S duties. These teachers will then remain on payroll in the event of a school closure.