Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will sanction the appointment of a full-time caretaker to a school (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12172/07]

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 This scheme has been superseded by a more extensive grant scheme now referred to as the Ancillary Services grant.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 caretaking grant assistance under this scheme.

Schools that have the services of a secretary under the 1978/79 scheme, as is the case of the school referred to by the Deputy, the level of Ancillary Services grant per pupil is equivalent to half of the standard rate of grant.

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