Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

——on those matters. The management bodies specifically asked for examples of where this was happening and agreed to follow up on it.

The Department will continue to facilitate any meetings or talks between the management bodies and unions on the matter. We have issued circulars to all schools advising them of their responsibilities and roles with regard to employment legislation, which they must keep absolutely.

The second question relates to capitation. It is the case that the ancillary grants, rather than capitation, would go towards paying for secretaries and caretakers. The Deputy will be aware we have increased that significantly in recent years and we will continue to do so. We accept this is the money issued for schools. Last year the amount was €65 million and this year it will be well over that because we have increased it again.

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