Brendan Howlin
Question:101 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education whether schools are entitled to recruit replacements for full-time school caretakers who retire; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - School Caretakers.
In the case of community and comprehensive schools the appointment of caretakers is subject to the approval of my Department. In the vast majority of cases where vacancies arise following retirement in authorised posts, approval is granted to the school in question to fill the vacancy. However, in a small number of cases my Department reserve the right to allocate posts to other schools where a greater need may exist for caretaking services.
In the case of vocational schools, caretakers are approved by my Department on a scheme by scheme basis. In general, vocational education committees are allowed to fill authorised posts due to retirement and it is a matter for the individual vocational education committee to deploy its caretaking resources in the manner which the vocational education committee considers best for the scheme.
The voluntary secondary schools are privately managed institutions and the employment of caretakers is a matter for the individual school authorities.
National schools which currently employ full-time caretakers under the existing Department scheme are entitled to recruit temporary replacements for key posts which become vacant, pending the introduction of a new scheme for the provision of caretaking services.
In future the employment of caretakers funded by the Department in primary and secondary schools will be governed by the terms of a new scheme to expand caretaking services in these schools. Under the provisions of theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress this scheme will be introduced on a phased basis commencing in September next and will be applied progressively to national schools with 100 pupils upwards and to secondary schools with 200 pupils upwards.