Do I take it that the Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, is replying to this debate as well?
Adjournment Debate. - Transfer of Funding from School Services.
Yes.
In view of the fact that I tabled this request to the Minister for Education and Science, and this is no sleight on the Minister of State—
I accept that.
—I am extremely disappointed that either the Minister or one of the Ministers of State could not see fit to come into the House to reply to this debate, which is a critical issue in education circles. It is critical to the good management of schools, primary and secondary. It is critical to the more than 6,000 people who will be directly affected by the actions being taken by the Minister. It appears that these people will be adversely affected.
The Minister has been vocal in recent days about what has become know as the Boston or Berlin debate. It is clear that the Tánaiste is winning hands down in this debate and that it is Boston – 1, Berlin – nil. What will happen is that funding will be transferred to the Department of Education and Science.
However, not enough funding will be transferred to create a sufficient number of posts for caretakers, secretaries and classroom assistants. We can all pat ourselves on the back regarding the Celtic tiger. However, large numbers are still unable to make it on their own in the workplace and need the sheltered employment and supervision provided by community employment schemes in the areas of education, health, the environment and so on. It appears that the people concerned are to be cast aside and that Deputy Harney is winning the ideological debate regarding Boston or Berlin.
I wish to read from a letter I received from a parent involved in a school board of management. It states:
As a parent in the Bray School Project, I am writing to you in grave concern at the cutbacks our school has suffered through serious inaction on the part of the Department of Education.
Our problem stems from the gradual abolition of the school based FÁS Community Enterprise scheme – which now provides the school with only one classroom assistant, compared with five assistants, a secretary and a caretaker in 1999. The demise of this scheme has meant the loss of approximately £42,000 from our children's education.
In a standard year, parents at the Bray School Project are faced with the task of raising 50% of the school's running costs. On top of this, we now have to find an extra £12,000 to cover the cost of the caretaker and secretary while it is impossible to even contemplate fundraising for classroom assistants.
It is time money was allocated to schools and allocated in such a way as to allow every school to employ a secretary and a caretaker.
I will also read from a separate letter from a school secretary. It states:
I like my job as school secretary and I want to continue in this employment, but I'm sure you will agree that we, as school secretaries, deserve to be treated fairly and not discriminated against. What we really need is to be employed and paid directly by the Department of Education and Science.
We are witnessing the most devious and underhanded transfer of arrangements between the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Education and Science which directly impacts on over 6,000 people. Schools are closed and boards of management, parents and teachers are on holidays. No one is aware of the chaos to which they will return next September. No one knows the situation regarding a caretaker, secretary or classroom assistant employed on a community employment scheme. Will these people be available? This is the most devious, underhanded transfer arrangement I have witnessed and a poor reflection on the Minister for Education and Science and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
We have had education on the cheap for too long. It is time schools were adequately remunerated to create full-time posts. However, in doing so we cannot turn our backs on those who gave us education on the cheap through community employment – caretakers, secretarial assistants, classroom assistants and supervisors. Just because funding will be transferred, we cannot wipe out the livelihoods of 6,000 people in education. Will those on CE schemes involving the environment or health services be next?
There are still many vulnerable people. The timing of this transfer is deliberate as the Minister is aware that schools, teachers and boards of management are on holidays. I regret that the Minister for Education and Science, or one of his Ministers of State, could not come into the House to debate this issue in an open and frank manner.
I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and apologise for the Minister, Deputy Woods, who could not be in the House. If, for genuine reasons, a Minister is not available, it is standard practice that a colleague replaces him or her. As the Deputy will acknowledge that my Department is interested in this matter, I am one of the most appropriate replacements for the Minister.
l am glad to have the opportunity of outlining to the House the current position regarding this matter. As someone who has been involved in education for many years, I accept that this is an important matter. Responsibility for the operation of community employment schemes in schools lies with FÁS. In line with a PPF commitment to mainstream certain essential services provided under community employment, officials from the Department of Education and Science are in discussions with my Department regarding this issue. These discussions are aimed at ensuring, as CE schemes in schools are phased out, funding equivalent to the amount spent on such schemes would be made available to the Department of Education and Science.
One of the effects of a transfer of funding from my Department to the Department of Education and Science would be to remove the anomalies regarding the provision of secretarial and caretaking services for schools. For instance, certain schools currently have the benefit of secretarial and caretaking services under CE schemes and also receive a grant for such services from the Department of Education and Science, whereas other schools are solely dependent on the grants issued by the Department of Education and Science. The purpose of the discussions taking place is to transfer full responsibility for the funding of schools for secretarial and caretaking services to the Department of Education and Science which would ensure an equitable system of funding for such services. I hope this measure will work to everyone's advantage, that this mainstreaming will lead to a better service and that those in education, particularly children, will benefit.
The transfer of such moneys to the Department of Education and Science will result in significant improvements in assistance towards ancillary services for schools. The discussions are at an advanced stage and the Minister for Education and Science hopes to make a further announcement regarding this matter in the near future. While the Department of Education and Science does not operate a scheme for the provision of classroom assistants for schools generally, schools will have the flexibility to use funds for ancillary services.
The Department of Education and Science already has a scheme in place for providing schools with special needs assistants where schools require assistance in meeting the needs of pupils with various disabilities. Schools can apply to the special education section of the Department where they consider they are in need of such assistance.
I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I have held discussions with the Minister and he is anxious that this measure be implemented properly. He will announce further details as developments unfold.
Boston 2 – Berlin 0.