Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Computer Training Courses.

Jimmy Deenihan

Ceist:

1237 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide special computer training courses for school secretaries at both primary and post-primary levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1881/02]

My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial services in primary and secondary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978 scheme for the employment of school secretaries in primary and secondary schools, under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. While my Department funds these posts, the management authority of each individual school is the actual employer.

The 1978 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 It has been superseded in the PESP Agreement of 1992 by a more extensive grant scheme.

This scheme provides funding to primary and second level schools on the basis of per capita grants with additional grants towards secretarial services. This funding by its nature is flexible and gives schools discretion as to the manner in which such services are provided. Secretaries employed by schools are employees of the individual schools. Individual school authorities are best placed to assess staff training requirements, including the issue of special computer training courses.

In collaboration with the various school management bodies, a new training initiative dealing with computerised school administration is currently being implemented in second level schools. This initiative is funded by my Department and is being run in conjunction with NCTE and CCM Software Services Limited. The initiative provides 20 hours training for each second level school. There are a number of different training modules and each school may nominate a member of staff, who may be the secretary, as appropriate, to attend each module.

Barr
Roinn