Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - School Services Staff.

Denis Naughten

Question:

1191 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the discussions that are taking place between his Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding the provision of secretarial and caretaking services in schools through the community employment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1609/01]

Denis Naughten

Question:

1192 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has to remove the anomaly in schools where schools without a FÁS worker on a community employment scheme receive the same payment for secretarial and caretaking services even though the costs are completely different; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1610/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1191 and 1192 together.

Responsibility for the operation of community employment schemes in primary and secondary schools rests with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. In line with a Government decision to reduce the number of participants in CE schemes, officials from my Department are in discussions with their counterparts in that Department regarding this issue. These discussions are aimed at ensuring that as CE schemes in schools are phased out, funding equivalent to the amount spent on such schemes would be made available to my Department.

Officials are preparing proposals for the transfer of such funding from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to my Department at present. Once those proposals are finalised, consultations with the social partners, in accordance with Framework IV of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, will be arranged under the auspices of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

One of the effects of a transfer of funding from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to my Department would be to remove the anomalies that exist at present in relation to the provision of secretarial and caretaking services to schools. For example, certain schools currently have the benefit of secretarial and caretaking services under CE schemes and also receive a grant for such services from my Department, whereas other schools are solely dependent on the grants that are issued by my Department. The purpose of the discussions that are taking place is to transfer full responsibility for the funding of schools for secretarial and caretaking services to my Department which would ensure a uniform and equitable system of funding for such services.