Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 3

Written Answers. - Secretarial and Caretaking Services.

Nora Owen

Question:

312 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education and Science the grants available from his Department to primary schools for the provision of a secretary and caretaker; the proposals, if any, he has to increase these grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9826/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

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 in primary schools, under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. Currently there are approximately 450 secretaries and caretakers employed under this scheme. 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 schools towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services. Under this scheme, qualifying schools have, up to now, been receiving grants of £30 per pupil, £15 per pupil in respect of each service, subject to a maximum grant of £15,000, maximum of £7,500 in respect of each service.

These grants are paid as additions to the standardper 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.

With effect from January of this year, all primary schools with 100 or more pupils have become eligible for a grant towards secretarial and caretaking services under this scheme. In addition I have increased the rates of grant from by 33% to £40 per pupil. This has also resulted in the maximum grant payable to schools under this scheme increasing from £15,000 to £20,000. My Department is currently making arrangements for the issue of these grants to schools.

Furthermore, with effect from January 2001, I will be extending the scheme to all primary schools. In addition I will be setting a minimum grant of £2,400 which will be payable to all schools with 60 pupils or less.

The improvements outlined above mean that, for the first time, all primary schools will be receiving an annual grant to assist them with the provision of secretarial and caretaking services. My Department is currently finalising a circular on this matter and this will be issued to schools within the next two weeks.