Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 7

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

419 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason St. Joseph's junior national school and St. Joseph's senior national school, Balcurris Road, Ballymun Road, Dublin 11, must continue to share one secretary between them; if he will provide funding for an additional full-time secretary; if he will arrange a meeting between his Department and both boards of management to try to resolve the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5317/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial services in primary schools under two separate schemes.

Under the scheme for the employment of sec retaries, which was introduced in 1978, my Department meets the full cost of salary and employer's PRSI. This is the scheme under which St. Joseph's junior school and St. Joseph's senior school qualified for the shared secretary arrangements. However, this scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and there is no provision for the appointment of full time secretaries in posts which are being shared. In the circumstances it will not be possible to sanction the appointment of an additional full-time secretary to either school.

Under 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 secretarial services.

Should the existing shared post fall vacant, my Department will provide both schools with a grant of £15 per pupil per annum towards the cost of secretarial services, subject to a maximum grant of £7,500 to each school, in accordance with the current terms of the PESP scheme.