Gay Mitchell
Question:26 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to review financial support to schools for secretarial and maintenance support. [15542/99]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
Existing funding arrangements for schools includes provision for the purpose of providing secretarial and caretaking services in schools. The way in which this provision is made reflects the different management and ownership arrangements for primary and second level schools and is consistent with the manner in which financial allocations are made to each type of school.
Since its introduction in 1992, the scheme of additional capitation grants to primary schools, not already in receipt of clerical and caretaking assistance on a full or part-time basis under a scheme introduced in 1978-79, has been expanded in line with PESP and PCW undertakings. The current position is that all primary schools with 195 or more pupils are eligible for assistance under the scheme, with an ultimate target of providing additional capitation grants to all primary schools with 100 pupils or more.
The position in relation to second level is as follows. The allocation of caretaking and secretarial posts in the vocational education sector is made on a scheme-wide basis and it is a matter for each committee to deploy the staff as it sees fit. Most schools in this sector have the services of a full-time caretaker and a secretary. Community and comprehensive schools have a full-time secretary and caretaker and schools with an enrolment in excess of 500 pupils have two full-time secretaries. Secondary schools with enrolments of 200 or more pupils and not covered by the 1978 scheme, for school secretaries are in receipt of additional per capita grants towards the provision of caretaking and secretarial services, subject to maximum of £8,750 for caretaking and £10,500 in the case of secretarial services.
The question of increasing the level of grant payable to schools, which I increased by £5 per student in 1997 in respect of the secondary school secretarial grant, will be examined in the budgetary context and in light of available resources. I wish to assure the Deputy that I remain committed to improvements in the provision of additional assistance to schools for caretaking and clerical services.