Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 2003

Vol. 573 No. 3

Written Answers. - School Services Staff.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

361 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the funding available to employ school secretaries to voluntary secondary schools; and if he will compare this to the funds available to vocational or community schools or colleges for similar positions. [25294/03]

The way in which my Department provides secretarial services to second level schools reflects the different management and ownership arrangements for vocational schools, community colleges and voluntary secondary schools.

In the case of secondary schools, my Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial services under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978-79 scheme for the employment of school secretaries under which my Department meets the full cost of salary.

The 1978-79 scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and no new posts are being created. It has been superseded by the PESP grant scheme which was introduced in 1992. The PESP scheme provides grants to secondary schools towards the cost of secretarial services. These grants are paid in addition to the standardper capita grant. The grant for secretarial services is at the rate of €38.10 per pupil, subject to a maximum of €13,335 per annum. An additional equalisation grant of €25.39 per pupil subject to a maximum to €8,887 per school was introduced towards secretarial services. The scheme, by its nature, is flexible and gives schools discretion as to the manner in which these services are provided. Secretaries employed by schools are employees of the individual schools and my Department does not have any role regarding how they are employed. In the case of vocational schools and colleges, caretaking and secretarial staff are allocated to vocational education committees on a scheme wide basis. The way in which staffing is allocated to schools is a matter for each VEC in line with their priorities and perceptions of need. My Department has made provision for secretarial services for all VEC schools with enrolments in excess of 200 pupils. All second level schools also benefit from the schools services support fund which is set at €99 per pupil, subject to a minimum of €19,800 per annum. Under the school services support fund secondary schools are entitled to an additional €28 per pupil bringing the total grant to €127 per pupil from 1 January 2003 subject to a minimum of €25,400 and which may be used towards the provision of additional secretarial services. The manner of the provision of these services is a matter for each school.
Barr
Roinn