Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.
Paul Bradford
Question:
828
Mr. Bradford
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if the FÁS community employment schemes will still remain as options for the employment of school secretary's and caretakers as the £4,000 grant, which his Department now sanctions for these services, is in no way sufficient to provide an adequate level of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23919/00]
In relation to the Deputy's question regarding the use of the community employment schemes by schools, responsibility for the operation of such schemes in schools rests with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Officials from my Department are in discussions with their counterparts in that Department regarding this issue. In general, I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to the provision by my Department of additional assistance to schools for secretarial and caretaking services.
At primary level, my Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services 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. However, this scheme has been superseded in the PESP Agreement of 1992 by a more extensive grant scheme.
The PESP scheme provides additionalper capita grants for primary schools towards secretarial and caretaking services. Under this scheme qualifying schools receive grants of £40 per pupil, £20 per pupil in respect of each service, subject to a maximum of £20,000, maximum of £10,000 in respect of each service.
These grants are paid as additions to the standardper capita grants. The scheme, by its nature, is flexible and gives boards of management discretion as to the manner in which secretarial and caretaking services are to be provided.
I increased the rates of grant by 33% from £30 per pupil to £40 per pupil with effect from January this year. Furthermore, with effect from September this year, I extended the scheme to all primary schools. In addition, I have set a minimum grant of £2,400 per annum which is payable to all schools with 60 pupils or fewer.
These improvements mean that with effect from September 2000 all primary schools are receiving an annual grant to assist them with the provision of secretarial and caretaking services. The Government's commitment in this regard can also be measured by the fact that the funding allocated for this purpose, which was approximately £5.6 million in 1999 has increased this year to approximately £12.2 million and will further increase in 2001 to approximately £16.8 million.
At second level the assistance provided by my Department towards the provision of caretaking and secretarial services reflects the different school management and ownership arrangements at second level.
In the case of voluntary secondary schools in the free education scheme, all schools with 200 or more pupils receive financial assistance towards the cost of both caretaking and secretarial services under the PESP scheme. There are also a number of secondary schools in the 1978 scheme for the employment of clerical officers under which my Department meets the full cost of salary.
In the case of vocational schools and colleges, caretaking and clerical staff are allocated to vocational education committees on a scheme wide basis. It is a matter for the vocational education committee to deploy staff in the best manner possible to meet the needs of the committee and its schools.
All schools in the community and comprehensive school sector have been provided with clerical and caretaking services.
In addition, I am satisfied that my recent announcement of the introduction of a school services support fund at second level from September 2000 is a significant initiative in the funding of our schools. Schools will now receive additional annual funding of £20 per pupil with a minimum payment of £4,000 per school. This fund will channel an additional £7 million to second level schools each year. While provision for support services, including secretarial and caretaking, is a particular focus of this fund, schools are being given discretion in line with that available in relation toper capita grants as to how this additional funding is best utilised in the interests of their pupils.
