Vol. 542 No. 2
483 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are issues regarding school cleaning that could create a health hazard arising from the implementation of the changes in community employment schemes; the action he will take regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23648/01]
485 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the transfer of the community employment programme to his Department; if his attention has been drawn to the problems this transfer is causing for schools; the plans he has to rectify these problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23881/01]
516 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science the length of time schools will have to wait for the new grant scheme which replaces community employment schemes in schools; if the new scheme will be backdated to the time when schools lost their community employment personnel; if the new scheme will match or exceed the old community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23903/01]
540 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science when it is proposed to implement the amended scheme for schools which was previously funded by FÁS; if his attention has been drawn to the anomaly that is likely to arise within schools where there are differences in school pupil numbers, such as 20 pupils instead of 200 plus, which will result in the grant not being sufficient to pay for the caretaker and secretarial services at that level; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the responsibilities and work will be the same in all schools irrespective of their size; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23941/01]
573 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the implementation of the community employment programme under his Department; if his attention has been drawn to the major problems being caused by this transfer; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that schools have no cleaning system in place because of this transfer; the plans he has to rectify these problems as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24264/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 483, 485, 516, 540 and 573 together.
My Department provides funding towards ancillary services in schools in the form of assistance to schools towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services. 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 CE, I 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 has enabled 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 throughout the free education school system. My Department will receive a total of £32 million in this school year.
Proposals for the distribution of the moneys received this year at primary and post primary levels have now been finalised. In the case of primary schools I am increasing the grant for caretakers and secretaries from £40 per pupil per annum to £100 per pupil over this school year and the next. With immediate effect, the grant will be increased from £40 to £60 per pupil. This will be further increased to £80 per pupil in January. As a result, the minimum grant to be paid to schools with 60 pupils or less will increase from £2,400 to £4,800, while schools with 500 pupils or more will increase from £20,000 to £40,000 per annum. At second level, the extra funding will be allocated to schools under the schools services support fund that I introduced last year. With immediate effect, the grant will be increased from £20 per pupil to £50 per pupil per annum, with a further increase to £70 per pupil next September.
These increases are in addition to the £55 per pupil at present provided to schools for secretaries and caretakers where these are not provided under separate schemes. This element of £55 is subject to a ceiling of £19,250 per school. The minimum annual grant under the services support fund for schools with 200 pupils or fewer will increase from £4,000 to £14,000 per year; while schools with 500 pupils or more will rise from £10,000 to £35,000 each year. In the case of second level schools already receiving £55 per pupil for secretaries and caretakers they will, under this new scheme, also receive £70 per pupil bringing their combined total for a 500 pupil school to £54,250 per year. My Department is now arranging for circulars to issue to all primary and second level schools outlining details of the new funding arrangements.
