Vol. 525 No. 2
894 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the current criteria laid down for the provision of caretakers and secretaries to national schools; and the plans he has to increase the facility to all national schools. [24282/00]
902 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the circumstances in which national schools are entitled to take on a caretaker and secretary; and the reason the current guidelines discriminate against schools which have increased their student and teacher number in recent years. [24607/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 894 and 902 together.
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 However, this scheme has been superseded in the PESP agreement of 1992 by a more extensive grant scheme.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 additional per 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 per annum – maximum of £10,000 in respect of each service.
These grants are paid as additions to the standard per 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 of 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 less.
