Vol. 534 No. 2
58 Mr. Gregory asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her response to the submission to her Department from the Navan Road Parish FÁS Project Limited (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10266/01]
My Department is currently finalising discussions with the Department of Education and Science aimed at transferring the community employment funding equivalent to FÁS expenditure on school schemes to that Department. The transfer of CE funding will provide an increase in funding for schools over and above the additional resources already allocated by the Department of Education and Science for schools support services over the past year. It will provide for a uniform and equitable system of funding for schools services which will, thereafter, be solely the responsibility of the Department of Education and Science.
CE projects providing schools services which include secretaries, caretakers and classroom assistants, will have participant levels reduced as a direct result of mainstreaming as it will no longer be possible for schools to avail of the CE programme to provide these services. Participants currently working in schools will be allowed to finish their CE contracts and schools will have the flexibility to employ staff based on the identified needs of the individual schools, including retention of persons currently providing ancillary services. My Department intends that every effort will be made to ensure that this proposal will produce positive outcomes for CE participants and for the education sector in general.
As provided for in the PPF, consultations on the final proposals for the mainstreaming of CE schools services are taking place with the social partners through the standing committee on the labour market. The precise nature of the scheme to be implemented is now at an advanced stage of consideration and I intend to issue a further statement shortly outlining the modalities for the mainstreaming of schools services.
