Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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189. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason school secretaries in DEIS schools are recognised by his Department and paid directly by it, whereas school secretaries in other schools are not; his plans to change this to ensure that all school secretaries are treated and paid equally; his plans to give the same equality and structure in the workplace to school secretaries as has been given to special needs assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26652/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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A Clerk Typist Scheme for the employment of secretaries in primary and secondary schools was initiated in 1978 as part of the then Government's job-creation programme. While a small number of secretaries employed under the 1978 scheme remain in schools, the scheme is being phased out - no new posts are being created and posts which fall vacant are not being filled.

The 1978 scheme has been superseded by a more extensive grant scheme which was introduced under the PESP agreement of 1992. The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme now receive capitation grant assistance to provide for secretarial (and/or caretaking) services. Within the capitation grant schemes, the level and extent of services provided is a matter for the school authorities who, through the discretion afforded under the scheme, apply diverse arrangements for secretarial services as resources permit. My Department does not stipulate any rules concerning how secretarial services are to be obtained by the school. It is a matter for the individual school to decide how best to apply the funding to suit the school's particular needs. Secretaries employed by schools using grant funding are employees of the individual school and my Department therefore does not have any role in determining the pay and conditions under which they are engaged. These are matters to be agreed between the staff concerned and the school authorities.

Notwithstanding the above, a forum was established involving my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, IMPACT and SIPTU to examine the factual position in schools regarding the terms and conditions of employment (including pay) of school secretaries. This task was completed. However, due to the very serious budgetary and financial position that the State still finds itself in, it is not possible to progress to the second element of the forum's tasks i.e. discussion on the introduction of an interim minimum pay rate. However, the parties have agreed to consider any appropriate measures in relation to the pay of school secretaries which can be introduced in the event that any review of the Public Service Agreements recommends changes to the benefit of those public servants earning €35,000 or less per annum. This is currently the priority for the Forum and discussions are ongoing.