Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 879: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will allocate additional funds to a school (details supplied) for caretaker and maintenance services at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10255/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Primary schools' running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of national schools including general maintenance costs.

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 This scheme has been superseded by a more extensive grant scheme now referred to as the Ancillary Services grant.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 scheme provides additional funding for primary schools towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services. The scheme is flexible by nature, giving Boards of Management discretion as to the manner in which secretarial and caretaking services are provided.

There have been significant improvements in the level of funding provided to primary schools in recent years. Since 1997 the standard rate of capitation grant at primary level has been increased from €57.14 to €163.58 per pupil. In the same period the Ancillary Services grant has increased from €38.09 per pupil to €145.50 per pupil at present.

These significant increases in the funding of primary schools are a clear demonstration of my commitment to prioritise available resources to address the needs of primary schools.