Vol. 512 No. 1
95 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether there should be a pension scheme for those who have long service as secretaries in schools which receive a block grant for their employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25235/99]
My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978 scheme for the employment of school secretaries 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.
In late 1985 two pension schemes for school secretaries in the 1978 scheme – a superannuation scheme and a spouses' and children's scheme – were introduced. Staff employed at that time were given an option to join these schemes, but all new appointees became compulsory members of the schemes.
Arising from the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, a second scheme was introduced in 1992 whereby my Department provides additional per capita grants for primary and secondary schools towards the cost of secretarial services. These grants are paid as additions to the standard per capita grant. Through the discretion afforded by the per capita scheme, primary and secondary schools apply diverse arrangements for secretarial services. Secretaries employed by schools are employees of the individual schools and my Department does not have any role in determining the pay and conditions under which they are employed. These individualised arrangements preclude the introduction of a central superannuation scheme.
