554 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will respond to the urgent points made in correspondence from a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8. [10169/02]
Written Answers. - Schools Funding.
My Department provides funding towards ancillary services in schools in the form of assistance to schools towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services. In line with a PPF commitment to mainstream certain essential services provided under CE, I recently secured the transfer of €58,407,951, £46 million, per annum to my Department on a phased basis between now and 2003, as the FÁS school-based community employment schemes, CE, 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 sector. My Department will receive a total of €40,631,618, £32 million, in this school year. The grant has increased to €102, £80 per pupil with effect from January of this year. In line with the new arrangements, €14,484 was lodged to the school's bank account recently towards the cost of ancillary services.