School Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020

Tuesday, 1 December 2020

Questions (501)

Mark Ward

Question:

501. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if community employment workers are permitted to work in primary schools as cleaners, maintenance and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40420/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection (Deputy Joe O'Brien)

Community Employment (CE) projects are typically sponsored by groups wishing to benefit the local community, namely voluntary and community organisations and, to a lesser extent, public bodies involved in not-for-profit activities.

Schools are not permitted to sponsor CE schemes and CE participants cannot be employed by or work in schools. This includes the provision of cleaners, caretaking/maintenance and other services to schools. As the Deputy may be aware, FAS who had responsibility for CE up until 2012, withdrew the CE services from schools from September 2001. As a result, the budget for schools-based CE schemes was transferred to the Department of Education and Skills.

My colleague, Minister Norma Foley T.D. has overall responsibility for the services and initiatives provided for by the Department of Education, including policy and funding.