Vol. 509 No. 6
638 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the severe difficulties being expressed by Pope John Paul II national school and St. Sylvester's junior national school, Malahide, County Dublin, due to the fact they have to share caretaking services which are totally inadequate; and if he will arrange urgently for both schools to get their own caretaking services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21707/99]
Currently, my Department provides funding towards the cost of caretaking services in primary schools under two separate schemes.
Under the scheme for the employment of caretakers which was introduced in 1979, my Department meets the full cost of salary and employer's PRSI. Under this scheme a number of primary schools qualified for a shared caretaker and both Pope John Paul II national school and St. Sylvester's junior national school are currently involved in a sharing arrangement. This scheme is, however, being phased out as posts become vacant and there is no provision for the appointment of full time caretakers in posts which are being shared.
Under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, PESP, a second scheme was introduced in 1992 whereby my Department provides additional capitation grants for primary schools towards the cost of caretaking services.
Should the existing caretaker post fall vacant, my Department will provide both Pope John Paul II national school and St. Sylvester's junior national school with a grant of £15 per pupil per annum towards the cost of caretaking services, subject to a maximum grant of £7,500 to each school, in accordance with the current terms of the PESP scheme.
