Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 362: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a committee was set up to monitor the provision and spending of ancillary grants in schools; if such a committee has made a report on its findings; and if not, when it will do so. [20753/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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In the context of discussions on the Social Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016, an Informal Forum was established in the public sector to explore a number of staffing-related issues arising in companies and bodies operating in the voluntary and community sector that are largely funded from public funds. As part of that informal process, my Department has facilitated a number of meetings between the managerial bodies of schools employing secretaries and caretakers and the IMPACT and SIPTU trade unions representing the grades concerned. The most recent meeting took place on 11 March 2008 at which my officials undertook to continue to facilitate those discussions. In addition, representatives of the management bodies of schools agreed to meet separately with the trade unions concerned on issues of concern to their members. My Department has no plans to establish a committee to specifically monitor the provision and spending of ancillary grants in schools.