asked the Minister for Education if, in order to enable secondary schools to enlarge and improve existing accommodation so as to cater for growing educational needs, he will provide State grants for building them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Secondary School Building Grants.
46.
Recognised secondary schools are private institutions and financial aid from the Department of Education is afforded by payment of capitation and other grants to the managers and incremental salary to an authorised quota of teachers on the staffs of such schools. When the rates of capitation grant are being fixed, regard is had to all factors affecting the cost of conducting secondary schools, including the cost of the school building. I am having an examination made of the position relating to the payment of these grants and the basis on which they are paid.
Is the Minister aware that building costs have more than doubled in the past ten years and that the burden of providing for increased accommodation is rapidly outpacing the resources of those who are running secondary schools? Would he state when he hopes to have the findings of this examination and whether he will be able to hold out some hope of improvement in this respect?
The examination will take into consideration all the factors such as the Deputy mentioned. I am not in a position to say when the examination will be completed or what my intentions are.
Would the Minister be in a position to make an announcement within, say, six months?
I would not like to start playing with the situation. When I have something to say I shall say it.
Live horse and you will get grass.
I would not even say that.