Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 October 2004
320 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the inadequacy of the ancillary services grant for many schools; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the cutbacks in the community employment programme have made it more difficult to acquire ancillary staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26151/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding to primary schools for secretarial and caretaking services has increased from the €50.79 per pupil that applied in the 2000-01 school year, to €127.00 per pupil at present, more than doubling the grant over the period.
Increased funding for the provision of caretaking and secretarial services was secured to compensate for the phasing out of community employment schemes and enabled my Department to put improved secretarial and caretaking supports in place for schools.
In respect of secondary schools, the support grant that was introduced under the school services support fund was increased from 1 January last and now stands at €131 per pupil. While provision for support services, including secretarial and caretaking, is a particular focus of this fund, schools have discretion, in line with that available in relation to per capita grants, as to how this additional funding is best utilised in the interests of their pupils. This funding support is provided in addition to the provision made to schools for secretaries and caretakers under separate schemes.
The question of any further increases in the level of ancilliary services grants will be considered as part of the normal Estimates process.
