Vol. 439 No. 5
235 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Education the reason schools (details supplied) in County Limerick continue sharing a secretary when other schools with less enrolment than either of the two schools have a full-time secretary; and if she will make a statement on whether she will sanction two full-time secretaries for the schools.
Grant assistance towards the cost of secretarial services is given to secondary schools under two schemes.
One scheme was introduced in 1977 and provided for grants in respect of the remuneration of school secretaries employed by schools on a full-time or shared basis.
A further scheme for the provision of clerical and caretaker services was introduced in September 1992 under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. Under this scheme, secondary schools with enrolments of 200 recognised pupils or more are given special grants of £25 per pupil per annum, subject to a maximum of £8,750 per annum, towards the employment of clerical assistance, provided that they are not already in receipt of clerical assistance, on a full-time or part-time basis, under the 1977 scheme.
As the schools referred to by the Deputy were already jointly employing a secretary under the 1977 scheme they were not eligible for assistance under the 1992 scheme. By reason of their size they are not eligible for separate school secretaries under the 1977 scheme.
