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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 3

Written Answers. - Secretarial and Caretaking Services.

John Gormley

Ceist:

597 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is in receipt of representations from the Christian Brothers, Sancta Maria primary school, Dublin 8, in relation to caretaker and clerical assistance, including its need for a full-time secretary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7821/99]

John Gormley

Ceist:

598 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is in receipt of representations from the Christian Brothers Sancta Maria primary school, Dublin 8 in relation to class size; his views on whether class sizes are still high for disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7822/99]

John Gormley

Ceist:

599 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is in receipt of representations from the Christian Brothers Sancta Maria primary school, Dublin 8, in relation to a teacher and counsellor; and the reason applications for a counsellor have not been successful. [7823/99]

John Gormley

Ceist:

600 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is in receipt of representations from the Christian Brothers Sancta Maria primary school, Dublin 8, in relation to teacher supply; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the school has found it almost impossible to find fully qualified teachers to fill temporary posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7824/99]

John Gormley

Ceist:

601 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is in receipt of representations from the Christian Brothers Sancta Maria primary school, Dublin 8, in relation to its capitation grant which it has asked to be increased. [7825/99]

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

627 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education and Science if Christian Brothers Santa Maria primary school, Synge Street, Dublin 8, will be eligible for extra teachers and a reduction in class size; and if extra funding is available to this school to cope with the severe problems it is experiencing. [8004/99]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 597, 598, 599, 600, 601 and 627 together.

I can confirm that my Department has received representations on behalf of the above named school.

This Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978-79 scheme for the employment of secretaries and caretakers under which this Department meets the full cost of salary and employer's PRSI. This is the scheme under which Sancta Maria primary school qualified for a shared secretary arrangement with another primary school. However, this scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and there is no provision for the appointment of full-time secretaries in posts which are being shared. In the circumstances it will not be possible to sanction the appointment of an additional full-time secretary to either school.

Arising from the Programme for Economic and Social Progress – PESP – a second scheme was introduced in 1992 whereby this Department provides additional capitation grants for primary schools towards the cost of caretaking and clerical services. This is the scheme under which the Sancta Maria primary school is assisted towards the cost of caretaking services. Under the PESP scheme, schools receive grants of £30 per pupil, £15 for each service, based on their enrolments, which are paid as additions to the standardper capita grant.
Sancta Maria primary school is currently in receipt of £3,465 per annum, 231 pupils x £15, towards caretaking services, which is the maximum amount available to the school under the current terms of the scheme. Since this is the appropriate amount payable under the scheme, it is not open to my Department at this stage to make an additional grant available to the school.
In relation to class sizes, the Deputies will be aware from my recent announcement that a new staffing schedule is being introduced which will ensure that from September next all primary schools will operate to a maximum class average of 30 pupils.
I am also aware of the application from Sancta Maria primary school for the services of a support teacher, formerly known as a teacher counsellor. The operation of the pilot phase of the support teacher pilot project is being closely monitored by my Department's inspectorate. I have received an evaluation report on the project which I am currently considering.
The question of any further expansion of this pilot project will be addressed following consideration of the evaluation report. The needs of Sancta Maria primary school will be fully considered in the context of any expansion of the support teacher pilot project.
I have been aware since taking office of difficulties being experienced by some schools in recruiting teachers. In order to alleviate this situation, I have introduced a range of measures which are designed to boost substantially the supply of trained teachers. These measures include a very significant increase in the intake into the colleges of education as well as the recognition for substitute teaching service of primary degree holders who also hold the higher diploma in education.
In relation to capitation funding, the standard rate of capitation grant payable at primary level was increased by £5 in 1998, with a further £10 increase in 1999, which has brought the standard capitation grant to £60 per pupil. This constitutes a 33 per cent increase in the grant in place in the last two years. These increases in the capitation grant represent important steps in the process of increasing capitation funding at primary level. In addition, Sancta Maria primary school is included in the disadvantaged areas scheme and receives additional funding of £30 per pupil in respect of same.
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