Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 31 May 2001

Vol. 537 No. 4

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

John V. Farrelly

Question:

169 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a school (details supplied) in County Louth was refused permission to appoint a school secretary when the present secretary retired after 27 years of service on 12 May 2001; the reason he is now offering a maximum school grant of £10,500 towards school administration in lieu of an appointment; his views on whether this is adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16366/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I am aware of requests by voluntary secondary schools for increased funding. The funding arrangements for our post-primary schools have evolved in an ad hoc manner and reflect the sectoral division of our second level system.

My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial assistance in secondary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978/79 scheme for the employment of school secretaries under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. This scheme is being phased out, as posts become vacant. It has been superseded in the PESP agreement of 1992 by a more extensive grant scheme.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 and secondary schools towards secretarial services. These grants are paid as additions to the standard per capita grants. This scheme does not provide for the linking of the additional per capita grants to any particular pay scale. The scheme by its nature is flexible and gives boards of management discretion as to the manner in which secretarial services are provided. Secretaries employed by schools are employees of the individual schools and my Department does not have any role in determining the pay and conditions under which they are employed.

I have already made it clear in the House that I consider that the report of the steering group on the funding of second level schools represents a comprehensive review of the funding arrangements of post-primary schools and is a valuable document in both its analysis and clarity of approach. The recommendations made in the steering group's report for the future funding arrangements of second-level schools are under review. At the core of the recommendations made for future funding arrangements are the principles of equity of treatment, transparency of funding structures and adequacy of funding levels.

Although my priority is to focus on the issue of adequacy of funding, I am conscious of the traditional anomalies that have evolved in the funding arrangements for the different school types at second level, and I am committed to bring greater equity and cohesion to this particular aspect of the funding of schools.

I have already shown my commitment in this regard by establishing the school services support fund. The introduction of this support fund 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 £7 million to 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. In addition, schools will benefit from a further increase in the standard per capita grant. I increased the grant to £184 from £177 last year. 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 bringing the total grant in the case of such a school with 500 pupils to £116,000.

My approach to date has clearly shown my commitment and determination to address the needs of schools. I am committed to improving further the funding position of second level schools in the light of available resources and to addressing the issue of equity raised by the voluntary secondary schools.