Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I thank each of the Senators their personal good wishes and I answer this question on behalf of the new Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. Primary and secondary schools are funded through capitation grants and likewise secretarial and caretaker services are funded by grants that are related to the number of pupils in the school. There are a small number of primary and post-primary schools that continue to have caretaker and secretary posts funded under a scheme that was put in place in 1978, however this scheme will eventually be phased out.

The amount of funding given to primary and secondary schools is not directly linked to any particular pay rates, furthermore, schools have discretion how to apply this funding across their support service needs. The Department of Education and Science does not have any direct role in determining the pay and conditions under which employees are engaged. These are matters to be agreed between the staff concerned and the school authorities. However, the boards of management of individual schools are expected to comply with employment legislation and are advised accordingly in guidance from the Department of Education and Science. This includes matters related to working conditions, terms of employment and the minimum wage.

In the context of discussions on the social partnership agreement Towards 2016, an informal forum was established in the public sector to explore a number of staffing related issues arising in companies and bodies operating in the voluntary and community sector which are largely funded from public funds. As part of that informal process the Department of Education and Science has facilitated several meetings between the managerial bodies of schools employing secretaries and caretakers and the IMPACT and SIPTU trade unions representing the grades concerned. The most recent meeting took place on 11 March 2008 at which departmental officials undertook to continue to facilitate those discussions. In addition, representatives of the management bodies of schools agreed to meet separately with the trade unions on issues of concern to their members. I can confirm that a further meeting is due to take place between the management bodies and union representatives shortly and it is hoped that these discussions will progress the matter further.