Gerry Reynolds
Question:113 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide funding for the provision of a school caretaker and secretary at Cloghogue national school, Castlebaldwin, County Sligo. [24631/99]
Written Answers. - Secretarial and Caretaking Services.
My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking 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. This scheme is, however, being phased out as posts become vacant.
Arising from 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 secretarial and caretaking services. Under the PESP scheme, schools receive grants of £15 per pupil, based on their enrolments, which are paid as additions to the standard per capita grant.
Since its introduction in 1992, the scheme has been expanded in line with undertakings given in the PESP. The scheme has been extended to include more schools by reducing the qualifying enrolment threshold to its current figure of 195 pupils, with an ultimate target of providing additional capitation grants to all primary schools with 100 pupils or more.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that with effect from January next, all primary schools with 100 or more pupils will be eligible for a grant of £30 per pupil towards secretarial and caretaking services under this scheme. My officials will be writing to all qualifying schools over the next couple of months confirming their inclusion, and setting out the details of the scheme.
Unfortunately, Cloghogue national school, with an enrolment of 50 pupils on 30 September 1998 does not qualify for inclusion in the PESP scheme at this stage.