I established a working group last year to examine the rights, roles, duties and responsibilities of principals, both administrative principals and teaching principals, in primary schools. The working group, which included representatives from the education partners, has recently completed its report and has made a number of recommendations. I am currently considering the most appropriate response to this report and have arranged to meet with representatives of the INTO to discuss the issues on 30 November next.
In relation to support for the provision of secretarial and caretaking services, my Department provides funding towards the cost of such services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978-79 scheme for the employment of school secretaries and caretakers under which my Department meets the full cost of salary and employer's PRSI. Under this scheme, schools either qualified for a full-time post or were included in a sharing arrangement. This scheme is, however, being phased out as posts become vacant.
Arising from 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 and caretaking services. Under the PESP scheme, schools with 195 pupils or more and who do not have a service already under the schemes outlined above, receive grants of £30 per pupil, based on their enrolments, which are paid as additions to the standard per capita grant.
I have set out hereunder the statistics in relation to the 239 schools in Galway.