Vol. 434 No. 4
193 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education her views on whether secondary schools with pupil numbers well short of the present threshold have an urgent need for a secretary and a caretaker; and if she will make plans for the progressive extension of this service to such schools.
Under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress a scheme for the provision of secretarial and caretaking services was introduced in September 1992. It is proposed to phase in this scheme over a number of years to cater for secondary schools of 200+ pupils which do not benefit under the Department's 1977 scheme for secretarial services.
As details of the expansion of the scheme for the current year are still under consideration within my Department I am not in a position to say at this point what schools will benefit under this programme. I hope to make an announcement on this matter very shortly.
