Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Nov 1998

Vol. 495 No. 7

Written Answers. - Capitation Grants.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

734 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the change in the system of grant payments to secondary schools for the purpose of paying the school secretary, in view of the fact that there is not enough financial emphasis placed on the grant towards the secretary's salary; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this grant is not adequate to cover the total cost of this particular salary; if his attention has been further drawn to the concern of all schools regarding the changes being proposed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in respect of the community enterprise programme; his views on the implications of these recommendations in the context of the important service that is being given to the schools through FÁS for the employment of caretakers and secretaries and maintenance personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21742/98]

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

750 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the change in the system of grant payments to secondary schools for the purpose of paying a school secretary and the fact that there is not enough emphasis placed on the grant towards the salary; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this grant is not adequate to cover the total cost of this salary; if his attention has been further drawn to the concern of all schools in relation to the changes proposed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in respect of the community enterprise programme; the implications of these recommendations in the context of the important service provided to the schools through FÁS for the employment of caretakers and secretaries and maintenance personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21888/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 734 and 750 together.

Since its introduction in 1992, the scheme of additional capitation grants to schools not already in receipt of clerical assistance on a full or part-time basis, under a scheme introduced in 1977 for the employment of school secretaries has been expanded in line with PESP/PCW undertakings. The current position is that all schools with 200 or more pupils are eligible for assistance under the scheme.

This scheme provides a grant to schools, which is not directly related to any objective pay scales. The grants are based on school enrolments and are paid as additions to the standard per capita grant. The level and extent of the service provided is a matter for local school management who, through the discretion afforded by the scheme, apply diverse arrangements for caretaking and clerical services as resources permit. The question of increasing the level of grant payable to schools, which I increased by £5 per student in 1997 in respect of the costs of employing a secretary, will be examined in the budgetary context and in light of available resources.

Regarding the community enterprise programme, I remind the Deputy that the responsibiity for the operation of FÁS schemes in schools rests with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. However, I assure the Deputy that I remain committed to the provision of additional assistance to schools for clerical services. This must be, of course, subject to available resources.