Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 1

Written Answers - Community Employment Schemes.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

345 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science if the budget that was previously used to finance the community employment schemes and is now the responsibility of his Department has been allocated for a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; the amount which has been allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7274/03]

Brendan Howlin

Question:

354 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if adequate funding will be provided to Gorey Community School, County Wexford, to compensate for the loss of funding which they have been receiving under the community employment scheme which is now ceasing and which allowed the school to provide additional essential services needed to cater for the 1,600 pupils attending the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7313/03]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 345 and 354 together.

In line with a PPF commitment to mainstream certain services which were previously provided by FÁS, my Department secured the transfer of €58.4 million per annum on a phased basis between 2001 and 2003, as the FÁS school based CE schemes come to an end. The availability of this funding has enabled 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 system.

At second level, the extra funding continues to be allocated to schools under the schools services support fund that was introduced in September 2000. With effect from September 2001, the grant was increased from €25.40 per pupil to €63.49, to €88.88 per pupil from September 2002 and to €99 per pupil from January 2003. In the school year 2001-2002 Gorey Community School received €89,453 under the schools services support fund. In the year 2002-2003 the school will receive €152,046 based upon an enrolment of 1,590 pupils and in the year 2003/2004 will receive €157,410 based upon the same enrolment numbers. This is in addition to provision made to the school for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning staff through the school's annual budget.