Vol. 500 No. 4
389 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the wages paid to school caretakers and school secretaries has not increased, in many cases since 1992; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4328/99]
390 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will devise a system of payment of school secretaries and caretakers that ensures that it is not linked to the numbers on the school roll. [4329/99]
391 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the system of determining pay for school secretaries and school caretakers. [4330/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 389, 390 and 391 together.
A phased programme for payment of additional capitation grants was introduced in 1992 in respect of schools not already in receipt of funding towards the employment of caretakers and secretaries under a scheme initiated in 1978-79. This programme has been expanded in line with undertakings given under PESP and PCW. The current position is that, at primary level, the scheme has been extended to include more schools by reducing the qualifying enrolment threshold to 195 pupils, with an ultimate target of providing additional capitation grants to all primary schools with 100 pupils or more. All secondary schools with 200 or more pupils are eligible for assistance under the scheme.
The programme provides grants which are 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 school authorities who, through the discreation afforded by the scheme, apply diverse arrangements for caretaking and clerical services as resources permit. As the secretaries and caretakers concerned are employees of individual schools, my Department does not have any role in determining the pay and conditions under which they are engaged. These are matters to be agreed between the staff concerned and the employer.
The question of increasing the level of grant payable to schools, which I increased by £5 per student in 1997 in respect of the secondary school secretarial grant, will be examined in the budgetary context and in light of available resources. I assure the Deputy that I remain committed to improvements in the provision of additional assistance to schools for caretaking and clerical services.
