Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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691. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) is entitled to any assistance from community employment schemes with regard to caretaking or small jobs within the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63494/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Funding to cater for ancillary services is made available by my Department under two separate schemes. One is the 1978/79 scheme under which school secretaries and caretakers are paid directly through the payroll operated by my Department.  This scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and no new posts are being created.

The second is the capitation grant scheme towards the funding of ancillary services in schools.  Within the grant programme, the level and extent of secretarial and caretaking services provided is a matter for the school authorities who, through the discretion afforded by the scheme, apply their own arrangements for secretarial and caretaking services as resources permit. 

The amount paid to an individual school is determined by the school’s enrolment.

Further information is available on my Departments website in Circular 0017/2021 Revision of Grant Rates in 2021 for Boards of Management of Recognised Primary Schools or by ETBs in Community National Schools using Ancillary Services Grant funding.

I am not in a position to advise if schools qualify for assistance from community employment schemes as that is a matter for my colleague, Minister Heather Humphreys T.D. who has responsibility for the Department of Social Protection.