Leitrim councillor highlights pay inequality in special schools

A call was made for the pay scales of senior management teams in special schools to be reviewed and adjusted so that their remuneration properly reflects their responsibilities.

Cllr Cormac Flynn told a November meeting of Leitrim County Council that these teams are not adequately remunerated for the heavy workload they carry. 

He also highlighted that Leitrim is the only county in Ireland without a special school, stressing the need to establish one, as the current situation forces families to seek special education placements across the border, creating unnecessary difficulties.

His motion called on the Council to write to the Minister for Education and Youth, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equity, and the Minister of State at the Department of Education to seek a revision of pay scales for senior management teams in special schools.

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Cllr Flynn explained that the current pay structure is based on the number of teachers in a school, which fails to reflect the true scale of management responsibilities. 

He noted that a special school with 10 or 12 teachers might also have up to 40 SNAs and 40 bus escorts, meaning the senior management team could be managing approximately 90 people, yet their pay is determined only by teacher numbers. 

SNAs and bus escorts are not factored into the calculation.

“The teams are not remunerated close to the workload that’s put on them. There’s massive burnout in the role and reluctance to take on the role. If we want the best people to take on these roles, then their pay scales need to be revised,” said Cllr Flynn.

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His motion received unanimous support from members of Leitrim County Council.