Tony Gregory
Ceist:282 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science the pay structure for caretakers in primary schools; and the increases, if any, arising from the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. [9580/00]
Written Answers. - School Caretaking Services.
Tony Gregory
Ceist:304 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science the agreements, if any, reached with the general secretary of the INTO in relation to school caretakers. [9747/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 304 together.
My Department provides funding towards the cost of caretaking services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1979 scheme for the employment of caretakers in primary schools, under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. The pay scales of caretakers employed under this scheme are linked to those of caretakers in vocational schools. Caretakers who are employed under this scheme will, of course, benefit from the pay increases that have been agreed in the context of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
Arising from the Programme for Economic and Social Progress – PESP – a second scheme was introduced in 1992 whereby my Department provides additional per capita grants for primary schools towards the cost of caretaking services. Under this scheme qualifying schools have, up to now, been receiving grants of £15 per pupil, subject to a maximum grant of £7,500 in respect of caretaking services.
These grants are paid as additions to the standard per capita grants. This scheme does not provide for the linking of the additional per capita grants to any particular pay scale. The scheme, by its nature, is flexible and gives boards of management discretion as to the manner in which caretaking services are provided. Caretakers employed by schools are employees of the individual schools and my Department does not have any role in determining the pay and conditions under which they are employed. The question of the application of the national agreements in these cases, including the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, is a matter to be resolved between the management authorities of the schools and the employees.
With effect from January of this year, all primary schools with 100 or more pupils have become eligible for a grant towards caretaking services under this scheme. In addition, I have increased the rate of grant by 33% to £20 per pupil. This will also result in the maximum grant payable to schools increasing from £7,500 to £10,000. My Department is currently making arrangements for the issue of these grants to schools.
Furthermore, with effect from January 2001, all primary schools will become eligible for grant assistance under this scheme. My Department is currently finalising a circular on this matter and this will be issued to all schools within the next two weeks.
My Department has engaged in discussions with the partners in education including the INTO in relation to the above arrangements and in relation to the question of future improvements in the provision for caretaking services at primary level.