Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 527: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a school (details supplied) in Dublin 3 is being forced to reduce the secretary's salary by €834 per annum due to inadequate grants; and if she will assist them as a matter of priority. [32796/06]

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 This scheme has been superseded by a more extensive grant scheme now referred to as the Ancillary Services grant.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 does not provide for the linking of the grants to any particular pay scale and is flexible by nature, giving Boards of Management discretion as to the manner in which secretarial and caretaking services are provided.

The amount of grant paid to an individual school is determined by the enrolment in the school. The standard rate of grant has been increased in recent years from a level of €102 per pupil in 2002 to a level of €139 per pupil in 2006.

Where a school already has either caretaking or secretarial services under an existing Department scheme, the rate of grant payable is €69.50 per pupil.

The school to which the Deputy refers has the services of a full-time caretaker under the 1978/79 scheme. Accordingly, the rate of grant payable in this case this year in respect of secretarial services is €69.50 per pupil.

The question of increasing the rate of grant under this scheme in the future will be considered in the context of available resources and priorities within the education sector.