Vol. 502 No. 6
324 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will supply a full time school secretary to Scoil Treasa, Ballycullen Avenue, and Scoil Carmel, Firhouse, Dublin 24, in view of their growing roll numbers, distance between schools and the ever increasing workload which has made it impossible to operate on a shared secretary basis. [8969/99]
My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial services in primary schools under two separate schemes.
Under the scheme for the employment of secretaries which was introduced in 1978, my Department meets the full cost of salary and employer's PRSI. This is the scheme under which Scoil Treasa and Scoil Carmel qualified for the shared secretary arrangement. 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.
Under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, a second scheme was introduced in 1992 whereby my Department provides additional capitation grants for primary schools towards the cost of secretarial services.
Should the existing shared post fall vacant, my Department will provide both schools with a grant of £15 per pupil per annum towards the cost of secretarial services – subject to a maximum grant of £7,500 to each school – in accordance with the current terms of the PESP scheme.
325 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will appoint a separate remedial teacher to Scoil Bhríd girls school, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. [9017/99]
My priority at present is to ensure that all first and second level schools which currently have no remedial service will be given access to such a service from September next. Arrangements to put this extension of service in place are currently being made in my Department.
I can assure the Deputy that the needs of the school to which he refers will be considered in the event that additional resources become available to improve existing remedial services.
326 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will appoint a resource counsellor or second remedial teacher to St. Philip's senior national school. [9018/99]
I understand that a case has been made to my Department for the appointment of a support teacher, formerly known as a teacher counsellor, to the school in question.
