asked the Minister for Education whether he will consider the urgent need and advisability of providing secretarial assistance for primary school principals in all the major schools in Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin School Staffing.
33.
My Department at present permit an arrangement in the larger schools whereby principal teachers are relieved of responsibility for practically all class teaching to enable them to devote time to the organisational and secretarial work involved in the running of their schools.
Responsibility allowances are also paid to other teachers in the schools to carry out duties in connection with the running of their schools.
I am satisfied that in this way satisfactory arrangements can be made for the secretarial duties involved.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that it seems rather wasteful to have a school principal use his talents, industry and initiative on simple clerical work that might more appropriately be done by some junior clerk?
I think it is important to use the qualifications and capacity of principals, and indeed all teachers, to the best effect but I think the arrangements at present in force are probably the most suitable in view of the fact that the extent of the secretarial work would hardly warrant the employment of full-time secretarial assistance.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that a need for a similar provision exists at secondary level?
34.
asked the Minister for Education whether he will consider providing for the appointment of permanent caretakers for all the major primary schools in Dublin.
The maintenance, heating and cleaning of national schools are a local responsibility. The employment of a caretaker would therefore be one for the school manager. My Department pay grants towards heating and cleaning expenses of national schools.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the grants are quite inadequate?
No. In fact they have been increased quite considerably this year.