Vol. 401 No. 6
21 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education, in view of the serious hardship being experienced by the school management at St. Mary's on the Hill School, Knocknaheeny, Cork, if she will appoint a full-time secretary to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
63 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education the number of school secretaries or caretakers who have their salaries paid by the Department of Labour, other than those on the social employment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
95 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education if she intends to appoint secretaries and-or caretakers to permanent posts in primary schools; if she will discuss with the relevant trade unions the issues of FÁS posts in schools which do not have sanction for permanent secretary-caretaker posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
195 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education the number of permanent posts for secretaries and caretakers in schools; the Government's policy in relation to the replacement of persons retiring from these posts; and whether she has any proposals for further policy in this regard.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 63, 95 and 195 together.
The number of staff whose salaries are met under my Department's schemes for the employment of clerical staff and caretakers is as follows:
Caretakers in national schools: 278.
Clerical staff in national and secondary schools: 490.
Of these staff, the salary costs of 29 caretakers and 33 clerical staff are met by the Department of Labour. The posts in question are ones which had fallen vacant between January 1983 and April 1985 and which it was decided to reinstate in conjunction with the introduction of the social employment scheme to schools.
Under successive Government embargoes on the filling of posts in the public service, staff who have resigned or retired since April 1985 have not been replaced; nor have any new appointments been approved. It is not open to me to make exceptions in individual cases.
