Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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149. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if school secretaries that are being paid by grants from his Department will be recognised as employees of his Department similar to many of their peers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12384/17]

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 While a small number of these staff remain in schools, the scheme is being phased out and has been superseded by a more extensive capitation grant scheme.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 services (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. Where a school uses the capitation grant funding to employ a secretary, such staff are employees of individual schools.

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