Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 2

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Bernard Allen

Question:

821 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science the submissions he has received from primary and post-primary schools in the Cork city and county area regarding non-teaching posts arising from the loss of such posts by the termination of the community employment scheme; and the schools and the positions involved. [26483/01]

Bernard Allen

Question:

822 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has carried out a survey of all first level primary and second level schools in the Cork city and county area to establish the staff they have lost due to the termination of the community employment scheme; and the schools and type of non-teaching positions lost due to the discontinuation of the community employment scheme. [26484/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 821 and 822 together.

My Department provides funding to primary and second level schools on the basis of per capita grants with additional grants towards ancillary services such as caretaking and secretarial. 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 – 58,407,951 – 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 –

40,631,618 – 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 – 50.79 – per pupil per annum to £100 – 126.98 – per pupil over this school year and the next. With immediate effect, the grant will be increased from £40 – 50.79 – to £60 – 76.18 – per pupil. This will be further increased to £80 – 101.58 – 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 – 3,047.37 – to £4,800 – 6,094.74 – while schools with 500 pupils or more will increase from £20,000 – 25,394.76 – to £40,000 – 50,789.52 – 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 – 25.40 – per pupil to £50 – 63.49 – per pupil per annum, with a further increase to £70 – 88.88 – per pupil next September and to £78 – 99.04 – per pupil in January 2003. While provision for support services, including secretarial and caretaking, is a particular focus of this fund, schools have discretion, in line with that available in relation to per capita grants, as to how this additional funding is best utilised in the interests of their pupils. These increases are in addition to the provision made to schools for secretaries and caretakers under separate schemes.

The minimum annual grant under the services support fund for schools with 200 pupils or fewer will increase from £4,000 – 5,078.96 – to £15,600 – 19,807.91 – per year; while schools with 500 pupils or more will rise from £10,000 – 12,697.38 – to £39,000 – 49,519.79 – over this school year and the next. In the case of second level schools receiving grants of £55 – 69.84 – per pupil for secretaries and caretakers, up to a maximum of £19,250 – 24,442.46 – per school, the annual grant of £78 – 99.04 – under the services support fund will bring the combined total for a 500 pupil school to £58,250 – 73,962.24 – per year.

My Department has received representations from schools, including schools in the Cork area, inquiring about the new arrangements that will be put on place as the CE schemes are phased out. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has issued circulars to all primary and second level schools outlining details of the new funding arrangements. It is intended that payments will issue to schools shortly.

However, I am immediately appointing consultants to examine and advise on transitional arrangements that may affect some schools during the process of the withdrawal of CE schemes. I am setting aside £2 million – 2,539,476 – to respond to the recommendations of the consultants.

In the discussions that took place in connection with the transfer of funding, I agreed with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and FÁS that all school based CE participants with a legitimate expectation of up to three years participation in a school based CE scheme will be facilitated to complete their full term. This adjustment to the phasing out of CE schemes in schools means that certain CE participants may be entitled to continue working on CE in schools up to and including 2004 depending on their individual circumstances and entitlements under CE. This adjustment should also ensure that the withdrawal of CE schemes takes place on a more gradual basis and therefore reduce the immediate impact on schools. I am aware that FÁS has issued guidelines to its regional offices that reflect the agreement that I have referred to above.