Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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505. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the basis upon which ancillary grants to schools are calculated, including if there is a statutory regulation and guidance surrounding the grants, in terms of the amount of moneys to be paid to school administration staff; the hourly rate; if that payment relates to a weekly wage for 52 weeks of the year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27322/15]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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506. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if boards of management and school principals are required to utilise ancillary grants for the employment of administrative staff, or if they have free scope and leeway regarding same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27323/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 505 and 506 together.

My Department provides capitation funding to all recognised primary schools for general running costs and funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services. In accordance with Circular 40/2009 this funding may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.

The amount of grant paid to an individual primary school for capitation and ancillary services is determined by the school's enrolment, subject to a minimum grant for both capitation and ancillary services in respect of schools with enrolments up to 60 and a maximum ancillary services grant in the case of schools with enrolments of 500 or more. In 2015 the capitation grant is €170 per pupil and the ancillary services grant is €147 per pupil.

Where a school uses capitation and ancillary grant funding to employ administrative staff, such staff are employees of the individual schools. My Department does not have any role in determining the pay and conditions under which such staff are engaged. These are matters to be agreed between the staff concerned and the school authorities subject to any relevant statutory provisions.