Olwyn Enright
Question:309 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has plans to provide subvention to substitute for the withdrawal of community employment schemes where they have been withdrawn from schools. [7926/03]
Written Answers - Community Employment Schemes.
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 schemes, my predecessor secured the transfer of some €58.4 million per annum to my Department on a phased basis between 2001 and 2003, as the FÁS school-based CE schemes come to an end.
The availability of this funding, that has been transferred to my Department from FÁS, has enabled significant progress to be made in relation to the provision of secretarial and caretaking services to primary and second level schools by putting in place an equitable system of funding for ancillary services throughout the free education school system. The increases in the level of the school services support grants will be of benefit to the vast majority of primary and second level schools. The transfer of the money to this Department from FÁS also ensures that this money will now be available on an ongoing basis. My Department has also 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 participants may be entitled to continue working on the schemes 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 however that the phasing out of CE schemes may result in some schools experiencing certain difficulties. My Department has engaged a firm of consultants to examine the transitional difficulties that may be experienced and to consider how those adverse effects might be ameliorated. All schools will shortly receive a questionnaire from the consultants.