Written Answers. - School Services Staff.
Jimmy Deenihan
Question:
429
Mr. Deenihan
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if he intends to introduce a system of grants to fund caretaker and secretarial services in all recognised second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9519/01]
The funding assistance provided by my Department towards the provision of caretaking and secretarial services for the different school types at second level reflects the different traditions and structures of the voluntary secondary, comprehensive and community and VEC sectors.
Voluntary secondary schools with 200 pupils or more in the free education scheme 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 school secretaries 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.
The Blackstock report on the funding of second level schools represents a comprehensive review of the funding arrangements, including the matter of equity between the different sectors at second level. While further work is required to bring greater uniformity and cohesion to this aspect of the funding of schools, my priority is to focus on the issue of adequacy of funding.
In this connection I have already shown my commitment by the establishment of the school services support fund, which is a significant initiative in the funding of our schools. A school with 500 pupils will now receive additional annual funding of £20 per pupil or £10,000 with a minimum payment for smaller schools of £4,000 per school. This fund will channel an additional £4 million to voluntary secondary schools each year. Provision for secretarial and caretaking support is a particular focus of this fund.
In addition, the standardper capita grant was increased to £184 from £177 in 1999. It was further increased by £8 from September last to £192 and will be significantly increased by £10 for the next school year. For a school with 500 pupils this amounts to an extra £12,500 per annum and a total capitation grant of £101,000 towards general expenses. An additional per capita grant of £30 per pupil is paid to disadvantaged schools, thereby bringing the total grant in the case of such a school with 500 pupils to £116,000.
My approach has clearly shown my commitment and determination to improve funding at second level and I intend to build further on progress to date in the light of available resources.
