Alan Shatter
Question:35 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science his policy for the development of caretaker and secretarial services in schools. [25222/99]
Vol. 512 No. 1
35 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science his policy for the development of caretaker and secretarial services in schools. [25222/99]
Existing funding arrangements for schools includes provision for the purpose of providing secretarial and caretaking services in schools. The way in which this provision is made reflects the different management and ownership arrangements for primary and second-level schools and is consistent with the manner in which financial allocations are made to each type of school.
My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978-79 scheme for the employment of school secretaries and caretakers under which my Department meets the full cost of salary and employers' PRSI. This scheme is, however, being phased out as posts become vacant.
Arising from the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, a second scheme was introduced in 1992 whereby my Department provides additional capitation grants for primary schools towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services.
The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced that, with effect from January next, all primary schools with 100 or more pupils will be eligible for a grant towards secretarial and caretaking services under this scheme. Costing £2.7 million, this improvement will benefit 650 schools serving 90,000 pupils.