Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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271. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the minimum number of pupils required by a school (details supplied) to maintain its two-teacher school status; the lowest number of pupils to maintain it as a one-teacher school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22380/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2016/2017 school year is set out in Circular 0007/2016. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on 30 September 2015.

Budget 2016 provides for a one point adjustment to the staffing allocation to primary schools, which has been implemented for the 2016/17 school year. This will see the primary staffing schedule operate on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 27 pupils. Lower thresholds apply for DEIS Band 1 schools.

The retention figures are reduced to 18, 52, and 82 for 2, 3 and 4 teacher schools respectively. Separately, a threshold of 15 pupils applies for the appointment and retention of the 2nd mainstream classroom teacher for those schools situated 8km or more from the nearest school of the same type of patronage/language of instruction.

The school referred to by the Deputy has an enrolment of 27 pupils and therefore will maintain it's two teacher status for the 2016/17 school year.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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272. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason secretaries, caretakers and cleaners in schools are not paid directly by his Department and are employed at the discretion of the board of management with the use of ancillary services grants provided by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22398/16]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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273. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to review the current practice whereby the board of management has sole responsibility for the terms and conditions of pay for school secretaries, cleaners and caretakers in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22399/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 273 together.

Schemes were initiated in 1978 and 1979 for the employment of Clerical Officers and Caretakers in primary and secondary schools. While a small number of these staff remain in schools, the schemes are being phased out and have been superseded by a more extensive capitation grant scheme. The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme now receive capitation grant assistance to provide for caretaking, secretarial or cleaning services. Within the capitation grant schemes, it is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs and the Department does not stipulate how such services are to be obtained. Where a school uses the capitation grant funding to employ a caretaker, secretary or a cleaner, such staff are employees of individual schools. 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, in 2015 my Department agreed to engage with the union side in relation to the pay of School Secretaries and Caretakers who are employed using grant funding and to enter an arbitration process if necessary. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 for School Secretaries and Caretakers comprehended by the terms of the arbitration process and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 for such staff be phased in over the period 2016 to 2019.

The Arbitrator's recommendations were accepted by both sides. My Department issued Circulars to schools which gave effect to the measures which applied from 1 January 2016 (i.e. an increase of 2.5% in the hourly pay rate and the introduction of a minimum hourly rate of €10.25) to School Secretaries and Caretakers comprehended by the terms of the arbitration process and also revised grant rates. Staff who were not comprehended by the Arbitrator's recommendations will benefit from the pay restoration measures contained in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015.