Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU) service at primary level
- Published: 15 September 2016
Update in relation to the provision of a Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU) service at primary level
In the Governance Manual for Primary Schools 2015-2019 that was published last Autumn the Department indicated that it was planning to put in place arrangements to strengthen and support the existing financial governance arrangements at primary level. The strengthening of the existing financial governance arrangements is long recognised as a key issue to be addressed.
In that regard, the Department stated in the Governance Manual that it considered the type of service currently provided by the Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU) to voluntary secondary schools was a good exemplar of the type of service that it would be desirable to have available to primary schools, adjusted as appropriate to reflect the needs of the primary sector.
The FSSU service to the voluntary secondary schools includes:
- Providing an advice and support service for the schools on all aspects of financial management and control. As part of this process standardised procedures and accounting formats have been developed.
- Receiving annual accounts from schools.
- Carrying out such audits as may be required.
Current position:
- The Department has engaged with relevant stakeholders in relation to the provision of an FSSU type service at primary level. This will be done through an expansion of the existing FSSU housed in the JMB management body.
- It is envisaged that rollout of the FSSU service at primary level will occur on a limited and phased basis in order to manage within existing budgetary constraints.
- The Department has set up an FSSU Advisory Committee to advise and support the operation of the FSSU at primary level. The Advisory Committee is chaired by the Department and involves representatives from each of the primary school management bodies.
- The FSSU has commenced the recruitment process for two primary sector coordinator accountants who will work on the development of a national set of financial management guidelines that reflect the needs of the primary sector and which will include a standardised national format for school accounts. This will be done through building on existing work already done by the school management bodies.
- It is envisaged that the initial rollout of the FSSU service at primary level will involve it operating from two regional locations – Maynooth and Cork.
- The Department will publish a Circular when the FSSU service becomes operational at primary level. It is anticipated that this Circular will be published in the latter half of 2017.
Measles outbreak - HPSC
- Published: 07 September 2016
The HSE has asked the Department to circulate to Principals of recognised schools the latest news item on Measles.
The information can be accessed from the HPSC website.
This link gives an update on the Measles outbreak. It talks about the importance of MMR and going to school. It also mentions the older child who might have missed MMR vaccination.
Further information is available by link on the Department of Education’s website under Public Health Issues at http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/National-Emergencies-Public-Health-Issues/
HSE Primary School Vaccination Programme
- Published: 17 August 2016
The HSE has asked the Department to circulate to Principals information with regard to the school vaccination programme for the 2016/17 school year. The management bodies have been informed and for your information please find attached the appropriate links to Department Circular 0054/2016 and the fact sheet on HPV vaccines and cervical cancer.
HSE Primary School Vaccination Programme 2016/2017
Clár Vacsaínithe Bunscoile an FSS 2016/2017
HPV Vaccines and Cervical Cancer 2016 - Additional information
Supplementary Panel – Advertising Procedures
- Published: 09 June 2016
The DES has given schools the option of using www.EducationPosts.ie to engage with the supplementary panel to fill permanent vacancies in your school. Permission is required from your Diocesan Office prior to the advertising of all vacancies on EducationPosts.ie. DES Circular 58/2015 provides clear guidelines to schools when seeking an expression of interest from teachers on the supplementary panel using EducationPosts.ie. Concerns have been expressed to IPPN that correct advertising procedures are not being followed and schools may compromise themselves unless the procedures are followed.
Schools are required to:
- give teachers a period of 5 calendar days to express an interest in the post
- extend the period of time for seeking an expression of interest by an additional 2 calendar days if no teachers on the relevant supplementary panel express an interest in the post.
Three sample templates have been developed by the DES and are to be used by schools when seeking an expression of interest from teachers on the supplementary panel. Schools that do not follow correct procedures will be notified by the EducationPosts.ie team and will be required to upload their advert again to the site.
Click here to view DES Circular 0058/2015 – Supplementary Panel
Click here to view Circular FAQs – Scroll to Page 7 to view sample templates
