Vol. 432 No. 1
96 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education the steps, if any, she intends to take to ensure that primary schools are in a position to appoint caretakers/secretaries in view of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress commitment to supply caretakers/secretaries to primary schools and the possible cancellation of all future SES schemes to fill these positions in such schools.
235 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the embargo placed on the appointment of part-time school caretakers under the FÁS social employment scheme; her views on whether this is a problem; and the action, if any, she intends to take to settle this dispute.
249 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure the future of SES schemes in relation to the provision of caretakers in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 235 and 249 together.
Under the terms of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress a phased programme of financial assistance by way of a supplementary capitation grant for the provision of caretaking and clerical services in national schools has been introduced from 1 September 1992. The programme is operated on the basis of a grant of £30 per pupil to schools, up to a maximum of £15,000 per school.
The initial phase of the programme has targeted national schools with enrolments of 500 pupils or over which have not had caretaking and/or clerical assistance already.
Arrangements are being made at present for the introduction of phase 2 of the programme from September 1993.
The question of the appointment of ancillary staff is a matter for the management of the schools concerned.
I understand that a dispute has arisen in regard to appointments under the Social Employment Scheme. While this is a question, in the first instance, for FÁS, which operates the Social Employment Scheme, my Department will be taking the matter up with FÁS in order to ensure that there will be no hold-up of appointments of caretakers/secretaries under the scheme.
