Cecilia Keaveney
Question:298 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to the retention of a caretaker in a school (details supplied) in County Donegal. [12852/98]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
A scheme of additional capitation grants for the provision of caretaking and clerical services in primary schools was introduced in September 1992.
The current terms of the scheme provide for grant assistance at a rate of £15 per pupil for each service. School authorities have discretion as to how the grant is to be applied to these services. The grant provided to schools under this scheme is not directly related to any specific pay scale. The grants are based on school enrolments and are paid as additions to the standard per capita grant.
The school in question is currently in receipt of £6,270 per annum towards the cost of caretaking and clerical services. This grant is calculated on the basis of an enrolment of 209 pupils, at a rate of £30 per pupil. Since this is the appropriate amount payable under the terms of the scheme, I regret that it is not open to my Department at this stage to make an additional grant available to this school. I assure the Deputy that I remain committed to seeking improvements in the level of funding provided under this scheme.