Vol. 489 No. 6
657 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is committed to increasing the grant payable for the employment of caretakers and secretaries in primary schools; the proposals, if any, he has to extend the scheme to all schools of 100 or more pupils in line with the commitment outlined in PESP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8572/98]
Since its introduction under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress in 1992, the scheme of additional capitation grants to schools in respect of clerical and caretaking services has been expanded in line with undertakings given in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress.
The priority has been to extend the scheme in the first instance to schools which had no caretaking or clerical provision. In this regard the scheme has been extended to include more schools by reducing the qualifying enrolment figure to the current level of 195 pupils.
I assure the Deputy that I am committed to further improvements in this programme until such time as all national schools with 100 pupils or more will untimately be grant assisted towards the cost of providing clerical and caretaking services.
