3.17.1) Appointment of Caretaking Staff
When approval has been obtained from the Department of Education and Science, the appointment of a Caretaker is a matter for the Board of Management. As for secretarial staff, Boards are advised to draw up a procedure for the appointment of caretaking staff. In this context, Boards should be aware of the Conditions of Appointment and Statement of Duties of Whole-time Caretaker at Comprehensive/Community School as issued by the Department of Education and Science. It should be noted that there are separate agreements on terms and conditions for the City and County of Dublin and for the rest of the country. The appointment is permanent and pensionable. Caretaking staff are expected to give at least two weeks notice of intention to resign, and retirement is compulsory on reaching the age of sixty five years.
Appointment is subject to the provision by the appointee to the Board of Management of satisfactory evidence of age, two satisfactory character references and a certificate of health at her/his own expense from a medical practitioner nominated by the Minister for Education and Science.
3.17.2) Probation of Caretakers
The probationary conditions are as for Clerical Officers at 3.2.3 above.
3.17.3) Career Breaks for Caretakers
The provisions governing career breaks for Caretakers are the same as those for secretarial staff as described at 3.2.4 above.
3.17.4) Salary of Caretakers
Salary scales are determined by the Department of Education and Science from time to time, and Caretakers on appointment start on the minimum point of the salary scale unless a higher starting point is specifically approved by the Department of Education and Science. It should be noted that salary scales vary between the City and County of Dublin and the rest of the country.
Boards of Management may decide to appoint additional caretaking and maintenance staff under the schemes of Student Support Grants, School Completion Programme, or other such schemes which are outside the scope of the normal DES allocations. The pay and conditions of such staff are at the discretion of the Board but it is advisable to maintain relativity with the terms and conditions set down by the DES for core non-teaching staff.
3.17.5) Duties and Rights of Caretakers
The duties of Caretakers are determined by centralised agreements and are specified in the Conditions of Appointment and Statement of Duties of Whole-time Caretaker at Comprehensive/Community Schools which is issued by the Department of Education and Science. These duties vary between schools in the City and County of Dublin and schools situated in areas outside of Dublin. In all areas, a Caretaker is required to carry out other duties, appropriate to the post, such as may be assigned to her/him by the Board of Management, the Principal or other responsible officer from time to time.
Caretakers, like other employees of the Board of Management, have certain statutory rights conferred by employment legislation. For further information see 3.1.11 above.
3.17.6) Security Alarm Callouts.
A minimum payment of three hours pay, at the appropriate overtime rates, may be paid where the school caretaker returns after normal working hours (includes shift arrangements) in response to a security alarm call out.
In addition, where the caretaker is obliged to answer call-outs and is a key-holder, (s)he may also be paid an annual honorarium to cover:-
· A contribution towards the cost of installation of a telephone where the caretaker does not already have a phone, and
· A contribution towards the annual phone rental payment.
In circumstances where the caretaker uses his/her phone for calls concerning response to call-outs, (s)he may be recouped the cost of such calls.
3.17.7) Termination of Employment of Caretakers
As for Secretarial staff at 3.2.8 above.
3.17.8) Amalgamation of schools.
Where an amalgamation of schools has taken place to facilitate the establishment of a new school, and in other special circumstances, the number of Secretarial Staff and the number of Caretakers employed may vary from the norm described in this section subject to the approval and sanction of the Department of Education and Science.
3.17.9) Garda Vetting
As and from 1st September 2006 all staff appointments are made subject to Garda Vetting. ACCS is the authorised body appointed to process applications for Garda Vetting on behalf of Community and Comprehensive Schools. Full details of these arrangements are outlined in DES CL 0094/2006 and in ACCS info bulletins 34/06 and 39/06.