Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 5

Written Answers. - Secretarial and Caretaking Services.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

170 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary schools which employ a full-time secretary as a percentage of all national schools in counties Donegal and Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20665/98]

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

171 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of full-time caretakers employed in primary schools in counties Donegal and Leitrim as a percentage of the entire number of national schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20666/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together.

My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978-79 scheme for the employment of school secretaries and caretakers under which my Department meets the full cost of salary and employer's PRSI. This scheme is, however, being phased out as posts become vacant.

There are currently two full-time secretaries and one full-time caretaker employed in schools in County Donegal under the 1978-79 scheme. There are no such posts in schools in County Leitrim.

Arising from the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, a second scheme was introduced in 1992 whereby my Department provides additional capitation grants for primary schools towards the cost of caretaking and secretarial services.

Under the PESP scheme, schools receive grants of £30 per pupil, £15 per pupil in respect of each scheme, based on their enrolments, which are paid as additions to the standard per capita grant. The level and extent of services provided is a matter for local school management who have discretion as to how the grants are to be applied to these services.

Since its introduction in 1992, the scheme of additional capitation grants to schools in respect of such services has been expanded in line with undertakings given in the PESP. The scheme has been extended to include more schools by reducing the qualifying enrolment threshold to its current figure of 195 pupils, with an ultimate target of providing additional capitation grants to all primary schools with 100 pupils or more.

There are 32 schools in County Donegal in receipt of funding under this scheme towards the cost of secretarial services and 33 towards caretaking services. There is currently one school in County Leitrim which qualifies for such funding.

Overall, the percentage breakdown of schools in receipt of financial assistance towards secretarial and caretaking services, in respect of both schemes, is as follows:

Secretarial Services

County	Total No. of schools	No. of schools in 1978-79 scheme	No. of schools in PESP scheme	% total
Donegal	176	2	32	19.32
Leitrim	41	0	1	2.44

Caretaking Services

County	Total No. of schools	No. of schools in1978-79 scheme	No. of schools in PESP scheme	% total
Donegal	176	1	33	19.32
Leitrim	41	0	1	2.44