In the case of all permanent and temporary wholetime teachers appointed for the first time on or after 6 April, 1995, with some exceptions, the PRSI Class A social welfare rate of contribution applies, and such teachers are required to sign a mandate authorising the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs to pay any benefit due to them under the social insurance system in respect of sick leave or maternity leave directly to the Department of Education and Science. The obligation is on the teacher to make the necessary claims for social insurance benefit to the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs within the required time limits. (For full details see C.L. 2/96)

The operation of Maternity Leave for non-teaching staff will, subject to PRSI contributions, involve Social Welfare Maternity Benefit. Twenty six weeks leave with full pay (less any Social Welfare maternity allowance payable on foot of a person’s Social Welfare Insurance) may be allowed.

Full details of benefits are available from Maternity Benefit Section, Social Welfare Services Office, Government Buildings, Ballinalea Road, Longford, Telephone: 043-45211 or 01-8748444.

Employees should be made aware that the continuation of the payment of salary during sick leave or maternity leave is a concession by employers and is dependent on the employee conscientiously handing over all benefit cheques to be processed through the payroll. Disability Benefit should be claimed, by the employee, for any sick leave absences in excess of three days.

The Department of Education and Science requires that the school seek verification of the period of payment of benefit and the amount of benefit paid during this period from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, Benefit Section, Dublin 1.

Note: Regular part-time employees may be granted paid maternity leave and paid sick leave pro-rata to the equivalent full-time grade. The general conditions governing the granting of such leave to full-time employees will apply also, as appropriate, to regular part-time employees. Employees engaged and paid on a seasonal basis are not covered by this arrangement.

Regular part-time employees are required to sign a single mandate authorising the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs to pay any benefit due to her/him under the social insurance system directly to the Board of Management of the Community/Comprehensive School.