Vol. 501 No. 5
140 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will appoint another full-time caretaker to replace the retired caretaker in Holy Child national school, Whitehall, Dublin 9; the entitlement to caretakers of these three schools which have 34 teachers in total; if 16 teachers is the requirement for each caretaker; the reason the third school has not been offered a grant for caretaker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6592/99]
My Department provides funding towards the cost of caretaking services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1979 scheme for the employment of caretakers under which my Department meets the full cost of salary and employers PRSI. However, this scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant. The second scheme is the provision by my Department of additional capitation grants for primary schools as agreed under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, PESP, and has been in operation since 1 September 1992.
The Holy Child Girls and Infants national schools have the services of a shared caretaker under the 1979 scheme. The Holy Child Boys school had the services of a full-time caretaker under the 1979 scheme until his retirement on 27 October 1998. Unfortunately, as this school does not have the required number of teachers, i.e. 16 teachers, it is not possible to sanction the appointment of a full-time caretaker to the school. However, the school does qualify for assistance under the PESP scheme and arrangements have been made for the payment of a grant of £3,946.34 to the chairperson of the board of management for caretaking services.
