Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 5

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

328 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the serious difficulties posed to Our Lady of Victories infant school, Dublin 9, due to the withdrawal of two classroom assistants who were on community employment; the help which is available to this school to compensate for the loss of these positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32290/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

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 – 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.

My Department has issued circulars to all primary schools outlining details of the new funding arrangements. 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 has been 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.

In line with the new arrangements, Our Lady of Victories infant school recently received a further payment of £2,190 – 2,780.73 – towards the cost of ancillary services.

I have also announced that 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.

The Deputy will also be aware that I recently 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.

Schools which used CE participants as classroom assistants to assist with the care of pupils with disabilities should note that my Department has a special needs assistant scheme in place for such purposes. School authorities may apply for the services of a special needs assistant to assist in catering for pupils with special care needs arising from a disability. Further details on the operation of the special needs assistant scheme are available from Special Education Section, Department of Education and Science, Athlone, County Westmeath.