Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Feb 2003

Vol. 560 No. 3

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Seán Haughey

Question:

274 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the gradual withdrawal of FÁS services is causing serious problems for a primary school (details supplied) in Dublin 5, in view of the fact that they will lose seven FÁS workers altogether, costing approximately ?40,000 per annum; if the transitional arrangements put in place by him can benefit this school at this stage; if he will examine the case of the school further on the basis that it has 99 pupils, is in a disadvantaged area and has a big building to maintain as well as large grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2578/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

My Department has agreed with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and FÁS that all school-based community employment 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 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 reduces the immediate impact on schools.

As the Deputy is probably aware, the money that has been transferred to this Department from FÁS has been used, in the main, to put in place a scheme of ancillary services grants for primary schools which are not already receiving grant aid for secretarial and caretaker services under the 1978-79 scheme. Funding to primary schools for secretarial and caretaking services will increase from €102 per pupil in the calendar year 2002 to €127 per pupil in 2003. Funding will issue to all eligible schools shortly. I am sure that the Deputy will agree that these increases in the level of the ancillary services grant will be of benefit to the vast majority of primary schools. The transfer of the money to this Department from FÁS also ensures that it will now be available to the primary school sector on an ongoing basis.

I am aware that the phasing out of CE schemes may result in some schools experiencing certain difficulties. A sum of approximately €2.5 million has been set aside to respond to the particular difficulties that may be experienced by some schools. My Department has engaged a firm of consultants to examine the transitional difficulties that may be experienced by schools losing the CE personnel and to consider how those adverse effects might be ameliorated. All schools will shortly receive a questionnaire from the consultants. It will be open to Scoil Chiarain to make the consultants aware of its particular difficulties.