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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 2

Written Answers. - School Services Staff.

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

1000 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding secretaries who are employed in primary schools, and were paid as Government employees; if these positions are treated and paid on a grant-aided scheme and paid on a per capita basis; if as school numbers fall, the amount of grant to pay the secretaries falls; and if he will outline policy in this area. [21092/01]

John Gormley

Ceist:

1058 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many primary school secretaries, paid on a grant aided scheme on a per capita basis, can find themselves with lower pay if the number of pupils in the school falls; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this situation is leading to fewer people wanting to take on this important job; if he plans to reverse this trend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21506/01]

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 1000 and 1058 together.

My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978 scheme for the employment of school secretaries in primary schools, under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. While these posts are fully funded by my Department, the secretaries involved are employees of the individual school authorities. This scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and no new posts are being created. It has been superseded in the PESP agreement of 1992 by a more extensive grants scheme.

The PESP scheme provides additional per capita grants for primary and secondary schools towards secretarial and caretaking services. These grants are paid as additions to the standard per capita grants. The scheme, by its nature, is flexible and gives boards of management discretion as to the manner in which secretarial and caretaking services are provided.

At primary level, I increased the rates of grant by 33% from £30 per pupil to £40 per pupil, with effect from January 2000. Furthermore, with effect from September 2000, I extended the scheme to all primary schools. In addition, I have set a minimum grant of £2,400 per annum which is payable to all schools with 60 pupils or less.

These improvements mean that, for the first time, all primary schools now qualify for an annual grant to assist them with the provision of secretarial and caretaking services. The Government's commitment in this regard can also be measured by the fact that the funding allocated for this purpose, which was approximately £5.6 million in 1999, increased in 2000 to approximately £12.2 million and will further increase substantially this year.

The Deputies may also be aware that I have recently secured the transfer of £46 million per annum to my Department on a phased basis between now and 2003, as the FÁS school-based community employment schemes come to an end. The availability of this funding will enable me to remove certain anomalies which exist in relation to the provision of secretarial and caretaking services for schools and also put in place an equitable system of funding for ancillary services. My Department will receive a total of £32 million in this school year.

Proposals for the redistribution of the moneys received this year at primary and post primary levels are now near finalisation and details on the new funding arrangements will issue to all schools very shortly. This will give a major boost to schools throughout the country and represents the implementation of an important commitment in the Programme for Government and in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
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