Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 3

Written Answers. - School Services Staff.

Brian Hayes

Question:

191 Mr. B. Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason Scoil Treasa, Firhouse, Dublin 24, does not have recourse to full-time secretarial assistance; the action he will take on this matter; his views on whether the school can properly function without appropriate administrative secretarial assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22586/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One is the 1978-79 scheme for the employment of school secretaries and caretakers in primary schools, under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. While these posts are fully funded by my Department, the secretaries and caretakers involved are employees of the individual school authorities. This scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and no new posts are being created.

Scoil Treasa shares the services of a full-time secretary under the 1978-79 scheme with another school. However, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my officials will be writing to both schools shortly outlining proposals to allocate the post in its entirety to one of the schools concerned. The other school will then become eligible for additional funding under a more extensive grant scheme that was introduced in the PESP agreement in 1992.

The PESP scheme provides additionalper capita grants for primary and secondary schools towards secretarial and caretaking services. 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 provided. Both schools have already been included in this scheme for caretaking support.

At primary level, I increased the rates of grant by 33% from £30 per pupil to £40 per pupil with effect from January 2000. Furthermore, with effect from September 2000, 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.

These improvements mean that, for the first time, all primary schools now qualify for an annual grant to assist them with the provision of secretarial and caretaking services. The Government's commitment in this regard can also be measured by the fact that the funding allocated for this purpose, which was approximately £5.6 million in 1999, increased in 2000 to approximately £12.2 million and will further increase substantially this year.

I have recently secured the transfer of £46 million per annum to my Department on a phased basis between now and 2003, as the FÁS school-based community employment schemes come to an end. The availability of this funding will enable me to make significant progress in relation to the provision of secretarial and caretaking services to schools by putting in place an equitable system of funding for ancillary services. My Department will receive a total of £32 million in this school year.

Proposals for the redistribution of the moneys received this year at primary and post-primary levels are now near finalisation and details on the new funding arrangements will issue to all schools very shortly. This will give a major boost to schools throughout the country and represents the implementation of an important commitment in the programme for Government and in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.