asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to provide for the appointment and payment of school secretaries; the criteria by which secretaries can be appointed; the basis on which a secretary can be replaced; her views on whether a secretary is essential in a reasonably sized school and without one it would be difficult to operate the efficient administration of a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Schools Secretarial Staff.
170.
The scheme for the employment of secretarial staff in national and secondary schools administered by my Department is being phased out as posts fall vacant. In line with Government policy on reducing public sector employee numbers, there are at present no plans to permit any new appointments under this scheme.
Boards of management of national schools may employ secretaries under the social employment scheme which is administered by FÁS.
Under existing arrangements in the vocational sector, it is a matter for each vocational educational committee to deploy clerical staff to carry out the duties involved in school secretary work, as it sees fit and in the manner best suited to meet the needs of the committee's pupils and schools. I have no plans to change these arrangements.
The position with regard to community and comprehensive schools currently is that there is a school secretary (clerical) employed on a full-time basis at each of these schools.
Appointments of school secretaries (clerical) are made by the board of management and each appointment is made subject to conditions of service prescribed by my Department. The question of filling a vacancy in this category is subject to the current conditions arising from the official embargo on recruitment to the public service.