81 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which he can justify the salary scale for temporary school secretaries, many of whom have seen a reduction in their salary over the past three years as a result of departmental criteria which is based on the temporary status of many school secretaries; the plans, if any, he has to increase the school secretaries' salaries in line with PCW income recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2939/00]
Written Answers. - Secretarial and Caretaking Services.
My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services in primary and secondary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978-79 scheme for the employment of school secretaries and caretakers in primary and secondary schools, under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. 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 per capita grants for primary and secondary schools towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services. These grants are paid as additions to the standard per capita grants. This scheme does not provide for the linking of the additional per capita grants to any particular pay scale. The scheme, by its nature, is flexible and gives boards of management discretion as to the manner in which secretarial and caretaking services are provided. Secretaries and caretakers 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.