Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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224. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide for a scheme for schools to employ secretaries separate from capitation payments. [37464/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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A scheme was initiated in 1978 for the employment of Clerical Officers in primary and secondary schools. While a small number of these staff remain in schools, the scheme is being phased out and has been superseded by a more extensive capitation grant scheme.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 secretarial (and caretaking and 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.

My Department has no plans to develop an alternative scheme for schools to employ secretaries separate to the current system of capitation grant assistance.