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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Community Employment Scheme.

David Stanton

Ceist:

372 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the community employment scheme which provided workers to Scoil Chlochain Mhuire, Carrigtwohill, County Cork, will be unable to provide workers in future; if extra funding will be provided for the ancillary services as promised; if so, the amount; when he will provide the necessary funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20065/02]

My Department has agreed with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and FÁS that all school based CE participants with a legitimate expectation of up to three years participation in a school based CE scheme will be facilitated to complete their full term. This adjustment to the phasing out of CE schemes in schools means that certain CE participants may be entitled to continue working on CE in schools up to and including 2004 depending on their individual circumstances and entitlements under CE. This adjustment should also ensure that the withdrawal of CE schemes takes place on a more gradual basis and therefore reduces the immediate impact on schools.

As the Deputy is probably aware the money that has been transferred to this Department from FÁS has been used, in the main, to put in place a scheme of ancillary services grants for primary schools which are not already receiving grant aid for secretarial and caretaker services under the 1978-79 scheme. Funding to primary schools for secretarial and caretaking services has increased from the €50.79 per pupil that applied in the 2000/2001 school year, to the €102 per pupil that issued in March last to all eligible schools. In this regard, Scoil Chlocháin Mhuire Girls' national school has been issued with a grant of €20,808 for the calendar year 2002. I am sure that the Deputy will agree that these increases in the level of the ancillary services grant will be of benefit to the vast majority of primary schools. The transfer of the money to this Department from FÁS also ensures that this money will now be available to the primary school sector on an ongoing basis.
I am aware however that the phasing out of CE schemes may result in some schools experiencing certain difficulties. In this regard, a sum of approximately €2.5 million has been set aside in 2002 to respond to the particular difficulties that may be experienced by some schools. My Department has engaged a firm of consultants to examine the transitional difficulties that may be experienced by schools loosing the CE personnel and to consider how those adverse effects might be ameliorated. All schools will shortly receive a questionnaire from the consultants. It will be open to Scoil Chlocháin Mhuire Girls' national school to make the consultants aware of their particular difficulties.
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