Written answers

Wednesday, 22 March 2006

Department of Education and Science

School Services Staff

9:00 pm

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will transfer the payment of school secretaries and part-time secretaries to the Department of Education and Science in order that all schools can afford to have this important support structure and that school secretaries can have job security; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11144/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Funding arrangements for voluntary secondary schools are structured mainly on the basis of capitation grants with additional grants for support services such as secretarial services. This provides schools with considerable flexibility as to the manner in which such services are provided to cater for the needs of their pupils. Secretaries employed by schools are employees of the individual schools and my Department does not have any role in determining the numbers employed nor the terms and conditions, including pay, under which they are employed. I do not consider that this funding arrangement should be replaced by a scheme of direct payment by my Department.

Significant improvements have been made in the level of funding to secondary schools. The standard per capita grant has been increased by a cumulative €24 per pupil since January 2005 and now stands at €298 per pupil. Under the school services support fund initiative the school services grant has also been increased since January 2005 by a cumulative €28 per pupil, bringing the grant from €131 per pupil to €159 per pupil. These grants are in addition to the per capita funding of up to €40,000 per school that is also provided by my Department to secondary schools towards secretarial and caretaking services.

A secondary school with 500 pupils now receives annual grants of up to €270,000 towards general expenses and support services, including secretarial services. These significant increases in the funding of secondary schools are a clear demonstration of my commitment to prioritise available resources to address the needs of schools.

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