School Management

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 February 2012

Thursday, 23 February 2012

Ceisteanna (34, 35)

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

32 Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount spent on insurance to cover personal injury employers’ and public liability and third party property damage claims for the primary schools in the State; if he will consider transferring this liability to the State Claims Agency to realise immediate cost savings; if he will confirm that the cost of insurance is currently met from the capitation grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10008/12]

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

46 Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount spent on insurance to cover personal injury employers’ and public liability and third party property damage claims for vocational schools and community colleges, and voluntary sector schools in 2011; if any attempts have been made to realise savings on this expenditure in the past year through grouping and procurement; if he has considered transferring this liability to the State Claims Agency which already handles this for community and comprehensive schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10009/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 46 together.

Responsibility for the payment of insurance to cover employers and public liability, and property damage rests with the Board of Management of primary schools, voluntary secondary schools and with the VEC in respect of schools operated by them.

My Department does not gather information from schools or VECs as to the cost of providing insurance cover.

I can confirm to the Deputy that the cost of insurance is met by schools from the grants paid by my Department and in the case of the VECs from the annual non-pay allocation made.

My Department is currently undertaking a Value for Money review of school insurance. It would be premature of me at this point to anticipate the conclusions that will emerge from this review.