Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 2

Written Answers. - Capitation Grants.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

1101 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science his response to a request from St. Michael's primary school, Dublin 10, for the services of a permanent secretary (details supplied); and if he will review this matter urgently. [21804/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978-79 scheme for the employment of school secretaries and caretakers in primary schools under which my Department meets the full cost of salary.

St. Michael's primary school currently has the service of a full-time caretaker under this scheme and also employed a full-time secretary from 1979 until she resigned in 1988. At that time an embargo on posts existed and there was no provision for the filling of posts which had occurred from 1982 onwards. The question of the reinstatement of the post to St. Michael's was considered by officials in my Department in 1990 but it was concluded that there was no basis for reinstatement. My Department has outlined this position in correspondence with the school authorities.

The 1978-79 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 It has been superseded in the PESP agreement of 1992 by a more extensive grant scheme.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 additionalper 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 nat ure, is flexible and gives boards of management discretion as to the manner in which secretarial and caretaking services are provided. St. Michael's primary school is in receipt of funding under the PESP scheme towards secretarial services and has received a total grant of £5,660 this year.

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, CE, schemes come to an end. The availability of this funding will enable me to make significant progress in relation to the provision of secretarial and caretaking services to schools by putting 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.