Vol. 541 No. 2
1022 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of classroom assistants, secretaries and caretakers who have been employed by his Department following the changes made in the last budget whereby these posts were being transferred from the community employment scheme to his Department; the number of schools which have not been able to retain these positions following the changes which were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21239/01]
1025 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has to reform the terms on which school secretaries are employed, following the transfer to his Department of community employment funds used for this purpose; and if he will introduce a scheme whereby school secretaries are directly paid and employed by his Department. [21279/01]
1032 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the guidelines for schools on the new arrangements for caretaking and secretarial support; the purpose for which schools can use increased funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21301/01]
1076 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if procedures have been put in place for the transfer of finances from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to his Department to cover the employment of support staff in schools in which community employment schemes have been terminated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21655/01]
1091 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will compensate all schools which were beneficiaries of community employment schemes and which are likely to lose the £10,000 materials grant if community employment schemes are withdrawn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21744/01]
1092 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will announce details of the new funding arrangements for school secretaries and caretakers; if schools are to be excluded from community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21745/01]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 1022, 1025, 1032, 1076, 1091 and 1092 together.
Currently, my Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978-9 scheme for the employment of school secretaries in primary and secondary schools and caretakers in primary schools, under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. While these posts are fully funded by my Department, the secretaries and caretakers 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 grant 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. There are no plans at present to replace this scheme by a scheme of direct payment by my Department.
In addition to the funding arrangements outlined above, schools at second level now also receive additional annual funding of £20 per pupil, with a minimum payment of £4,000 per school under the school services support fund. While provision for secretarial and caretaking support is a particular focus of this fund, schools themselves are given discretion as to how precisely the funding is applied.
