Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 17 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 1

Written Answers. - Secretarial and Caretaking Services.

Ulick Burke

Ceist:

182 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to lessen difficulties being experienced by teaching principals in relation to their increased workload; if he will provide additional support by way of the provision of caretakers and school secretaries; the number of schools at primary level in County Galway which have these services; and the number of schools without access to these services. [23732/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I established a working group last year to examine the rights, roles, duties and responsibilities of principals, both administrative principals and teaching principals, in primary schools. The working group, which included representatives from the education partners, has recently completed its report and has made a number of recommendations. I am currently considering the most appropriate response to this report and have arranged to meet with representatives of the INTO to discuss the issues on 30 November next.

In relation to support for the provision of secretarial and caretaking services, my Department provides funding towards the cost of such services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978-79 scheme for the employment of school secretaries and caretakers under which my Department meets the full cost of salary and employer's PRSI. Under this scheme, schools either qualified for a full-time post or were included in a sharing arrangement. This scheme is, however, being phased out as posts become vacant.

Arising from 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 and caretaking services. Under the PESP scheme, schools with 195 pupils or more and who do not have a service already under the schemes outlined above, receive grants of £30 per pupil, based on their enrolments, which are paid as additions to the standard per capita grant.

I have set out hereunder the statistics in relation to the 239 schools in Galway.

Caretaker	1979 Scheme	Full	Shared	PESPScheme	Secretary	1978 Scheme	Full	Shared	PESPScheme
4	Nil	36	3	5	32

I recognise the need for further supports and am pleased to inform the Deputy that with effect from January next, all primary schools with 100 or more pupils will be eligible for a grant of £30 per pupil towards secretarial and caretaking services under the PESP scheme.

My officials will be writing to all qualifying schools over the next couple of months confirming their inclusion, and setting out the details of the scheme. I expect that approximately 37 of the schools in Galway which currently have no service from my Department, will be included from January next.