Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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316. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the assistance that is available for a school (details supplied) which needs assistance to keep the school clean. [60717/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides each ETB with an administration and maintenance staffing allocation to support ETB schools, colleges and head office. In providing these supports, it is the responsibility of each ETB to recruit and manage staffing levels within this allocation, which would include where to assign such staffing. From a staffing flexibility point of view, while an individual may be initially recruited to work in a specific work area, the individuals concerned are employed by the ETB and the Chief Executive has the discretion to move staff around the ETB in accordance with the needs of the organisation. 

In terms of allocating administration and maintenance staffing to ETB schools and colleges, which would include Coláiste Pobail Fóla, Saggart Co. Dublin, my Department’s approach in relation to the filling of such posts is as follows: 

1. Schools with enrolments below 250 pupils would have an entitlement to 0.5 WTE School Secretary at Grade III level and 0.5 WTE Caretaker.

2. Schools with enrolments in between of 250 pupils & 499 pupils would have an entitlement to 1 WTE School Secretary at Grade III level and 1 WTE Caretaker.

3. Schools with enrolments in between of 500 pupils & 625 pupils would have an entitlement to 1.5 WTE School Secretary at Grade III level and 1 WTE Caretaker.

4. Schools with enrolments in between of 626 pupils & 699 pupils would have an entitlement to 2 WTE School Secretaries at Grade III level and 1 WTE Caretaker.

5. Schools with enrolments in excess of 700 pupils would have an entitlement to 2 WTE School Secretaries at Grade III level and 2 WTE Caretakers.

6. Cleaning Hours would be allocated on the basis of 4.5hrs per pupil per annum up to a maximum annual cleaning allocation of 1 WTE or 2,028hrs and minimum annual cleaning allocation of 0.25 WTE or 520 hrs per annum.

In addition to the above, it is open to an ETB to explore the possibility of using the School Services Support Fund (SSSF) to supplement admin/maintenance staffing within their ETB. While they would not be in a position to employ any person directly, they could/may use the SSSF to buy in a service (i.e. use a contracting company/agency).