Brendan Kenneally (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 411: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a school caretaker (details supplied) in County Waterford who has been employed in a temporary capacity for over ten years has not been made permanent, while caretakers in other schools with less service have attained permanency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29358/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department provides funding to secondary schools for the provision of caretaking and other ancillary services via the school services support fund. This grant, which is paid on a per capita basis, allows schools discretion in the application of the funding in accordance with their own needs and priorities. In particular, it represents a major resource for schools with difficulties in the provision of secretarial and caretaking services. It is a matter for each school to determine how best to meet its caretaking requirements and to employ caretaking staff as it deems appropriate. Accordingly, my Department has no direct role in determining the employment capacity of caretakers employed by schools.