Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Dec 1993

Vol. 437 No. 2

Written Answers. - School Support Staff.

Liz McManus

Question:

179 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the difficulties being experienced by St. Fergal's junior national school and St. Fergal's senior national school, Bray, County Wicklow, in acquiring caretaking and secretarial services and the fact that the two schools have, out of necessity, up to now shared these facilities between them, she will ensure that the fact that the two schools co-operated in the past does not create an obstacle towards their allocation of a permanent caretaker and secretary to each school; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The Programme for Economic and Social Progress provided for the introduction of a phased programme to expand the provision of caretaking and clerical services to all national schools with 100 pupils upwards.

Phase 1 of this programme was introduced in September 1992 and targeted schools with enrolments of 500 pupils or more which did not have caretaking and-or clerical services already. Phase 2, implemented in September, 1993, using the same criteria, reduced the qualifying enrolment from 500 pupils or more to 400+ pupils, as well as making special provision for schools in designated disadvantaged areas.

Current priority is to provide for schools which do not have any service. The question of providing additional assistance to schools such as St. Fergal's which already have a sharing arrangement, has yet to be determined.