Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 745: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in County Cork will receive secretarial or administrative staff for the 2008/2009 school term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27376/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, 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 This scheme has been superseded by a more extensive grant scheme referred to as the Ancillary Services grant.

The amount of grant paid to an individual school is determined by the enrolment in the school. 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 for this purpose in recent years. Since 1997 the standard rate of the Ancillary Services grant has increased from €38.09 per pupil to €151.50 per pupil at present.

The school in question has received the Ancillary services grant for 2008.

This Government has shown a strong commitment to improving primary school funding in recent years and I will continue to prioritise this area in the context of available resources.