Jackie Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 460: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the post of full-time caretaker for a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13410/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978-79 scheme for the employment of full-time secretaries and caretakers in primary schools, under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. This scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and no new posts are being created. This scheme has been superseded by a more extensive grant scheme now referred to as the ancillary services grant.

The ancillary services grant provides additional funding for primary schools towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services. The scheme is flexible in nature, giving boards of management discretion as to the manner in which secretarial and caretaking services are provided. The school referred to by the Deputy receives secretarial and caretaking grant assistance under this scheme. The standard rate of grant per pupil under the scheme, which applies in the case of the school in question, was increased from €102 to €127 per pupil in 2004 and is being further increased to €133 per pupil this year.