Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 6

Written Answers. - Secretarial and Caretaking Services.

Richard Bruton

Question:

396 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5 is boycotting the inservice training for the new primary curriculum because of the delay in responding to the schools needs for additional caretaking and secretarial services; and if he will make an allocation to the school from the additional £45 million provided in the budget for this purpose. [10454/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

I am aware that the school referred to by the Deputy declined to participate in the in-career development programme organised to support the implementation of the revised primary school curriculum. I recently met the principal of the school to discuss this and a range of other issues.

When my Department became aware of the school's position in November last, a letter issued to the school extending an open invitation to the staff to attend phase 1 in career development seminars at any time up to the completion date of mid-February 2000. In the event, the school did not take up this offer. I have been made aware very recently that the school has now declined an invitation to participate in phase 2 seminars, due for completion by the end of the school year.

The position regarding the school is that it is currently involved in a secretarial sharing arrangement with another primary school under the 1978 scheme for the employment of secretaries in primary schools. There is no provision at the moment for the appointment of full-time secretaries in posts that are being shared. In addition to the shared secretary arrangement, the school had up to this year been receiving an additional per capita grant of £15 per pupil, towards the cost of caretaking services, under the PESP scheme that was introduced in 1992.

In view of the increased allocation that has been made available this year, and effective from January of this year, all primary schools with 100 or more pupils became eligible for a grant towards caretaking services under this scheme. I also increased the rate of grant by 33% to £20 per pupil. This has resulted in the grant for caretaking services to the school referred to by the Deputy increasing from £5,190 in 1999 to £6,880 this year. My Department has already issued the increased grants to the school.

Furthermore, with effect from January 2001, all primary schools will become eligible for grant assistance under this scheme. My Department is issuing a circular to all to all schools on this matter this week.

I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that, in framing proposals for the spending of the allocation, which increased from approximately £5.6 million in 1999 to £11.2 million this year, it was necessary for me to examine means of ensuring that all schools would receive assistance from my Department in respect of both secretarial and caretaking assistance. The scheme that I have put in place will mean that from January of 2001 all primary schools will, for the first time, be receiving grant assistance in respect of these services from my Department. The increase of 33% in the rate of grant also means that schools that were already receiving assistance have had their grant levels significantly increased.

It is not possible for me to put separate provision in place for the school referred to by the Deputy. The school has benefited from the enhanced scheme that has now been put in place. I am committed to seeking further improvements in the resources available to schools in respect of secretarial and caretaking services.

It is regrettable that the school cannot see its way to participating in the incareer development programme associated with the implementation of the revised curriculum and I would urge the school to reconsider its stance in this regard.