Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Jun 1999

Vol. 506 No. 5

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

235 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the serious difficulties being caused for schools through the loss of secretaries, caretakers and classroom assistants arising from the decision to reduce the number of community employment places; the funding, if any, which will be provided to allow for the replacement of personnel lost in this way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15797/99]

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

236 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties facing schools in implementing the new curriculum in the worsened conditions for teachers and principals, particularly in small schools arising from the withdrawal of caretaker and secretarial services following the reduction in the number of community employment places available to schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15798/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together.

While the responsibility for the operation of the community employment schemes in schools rests with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I can assure the Deputy that I remain committed to the provision of additional assistance to schools for clerical and caretaking services.

At primary level my Department provides funding towards the cost of caretaking and secretarial services under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978-79 scheme for the employment of caretakers and clerical officers under which my Department meets the full cost of salary and employer's PRSI. However, this scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant.

The second scheme is the provision by my Department of additional per capita 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 PESP provided for the introduction of a phased scheme of additional per capita grants with a view to expanding the provision of caretaking and secretarial services to all primary schools with 100 pupils or more. Currently, all schools of 195 pupils or more, not including schools in the 1978 scheme outlined above, qualify for a grant of £30 per pupil, to a maximum of £15,000 per annum, towards the cost of caretaking and secretarial services.

At second level the assistance provided by my Department towards the provision of caretaking and secretarial services reflects the different school management and ownership arrangements at second level.

In the case of voluntary secondary schools in the free education scheme, all schools with 200 or more pupils receive financial assistance towards the cost of both caretaking and secretarial services. There are also a number of secondary schools in the 1978 scheme for the employment of clerical officers under which my Department meets the full cost of salary.

In the case of vocational schools and colleges, caretaking and clerical staff are allocated to vocational education committees on a scheme wide basis. It is a matter for the vocational education committee to deploy staff in the best manner possible to meet the needs of the committee and its schools.

All schools in the community and comprehensive school sector have been provided with clerical and caretaking 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.

In relation to the concern expressed by the Deputy about classroom assistants, I recently announced a major new initiative in the special education area under which all children in the primary system assessed as having special needs arising from a disability will be entitled to an automatic response to those needs.

The level and nature of the response in each case will depend on the assessed needs of the child or group of children involved. The response may take the form of a full or part-time resource teacher or child care support depending on the number of children involved and the nature of their needs.

Finally, with regard to the Deputy's comments regarding the implementation of the revised primary curriculum, my Department has established a primary curriculum implementation group and a supporting technical working group to plan and put in place training and support services to enable schools to successfully implement the revised curriculum. These groups are representative of the partners in the primary education sector. The main element of support to schools will be provided by the primary curriculum support service which is currently being put in place and will commence providing training and support in the new school year. In this regard, forty trainers have been recruited to provide training and support on a regional basis during the forthcoming school year. The national network of education centres will also provide on-going support to schools in co-operation with the PCSP. There will be ongoing evaluation of the PCSP so as to ensure that appropriate support is provided to schools to assist them in implementing the revised curriculum over the coming years.

Seán Ryan

Question:

237 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science the need for a resource teacher for St. Nicholas of Myra national school, Kinsealy, County Dublin; and when this appointment will be made. [15804/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department recently sanctioned five hours of part-time resource teaching per week to assist the school in question to cater for the special educational needs of a specific pupil. A teacher has already been appointed to this position.