Pat Carey
Ceist:171 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will allow the retention of two classroom assistants, to facilitate the proper running of a school (details supplied). [31191/01]
Vol. 546 No. 1
171 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will allow the retention of two classroom assistants, to facilitate the proper running of a school (details supplied). [31191/01]
My Department provides funding towards ancillary services in schools in the form of assistance to schools towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services. Responsibility for the operation of community employment – CE – schemes in schools lies with FÁS. In line with a PPF commitment to mainstream certain essential services provided under CE, I recently secured the transfer of £46 million – 58,407,951 – per annum to my Department on a phased basis between now and 2003, as the FÁS school-based CE schemes come to an end. The availability of this funding has enabled 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 throughout the free education school system. My Department will receive a total of £32 million – 40,631,618 – in this school year. My Department has now issued circulars to all primary schools outlining details of the new funding arrangements. In line with the new arrangements, the school referred to by the Deputy will receive a further payment towards the cost of ancillary services shortly.