andMr. Ryan asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that many Dublin secondary schools have notified parents of substantial increases in fees for the next school term; and that this is creative of hardship and in some cases will result in children being deprived of secondary schooling because of inability to pay the increased fees; and if he will provide additional financial aid either to schools or directly to parents in order to prevent this undesirable development.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Secondary School Fees.
47.
I have already announced a 20 per cent increase in the grants payable to these schools.
Is the Minister aware that increases of 25 per cent and over have been announced in school fees in certain cases in the city of Dublin?
They are private institutions. They receive grants from the State and the incremental salary of their staff is paid by the State. The capitation grants they get in relation to each pupil have been increased by 20 per cent. They are entitled to charge fees.
Is the Minister aware there is great disappointment among secondary school managers by reason of the niggardly increase in capitation grants?
Do you remember the time you cut them down by ten per cent?
Do you remember the time you increased them before the Cork by-election ?
I do not think a 20 per cent increase could be regarded as niggardly. When Seán Ó Loinsigh was Minister for Education——
Cé hé sin?
When the Minister for Industry and Commerce was Minister for Education he gave a ten per cent increase to compensate for the ten per cent cut made by you.
Mr. Ryan
Is it not clear from the fact that the schools have had to demand an increase in fees that the increase given by the Minister is utterly inadequate?
They are private schools. Is the Deputy asking me to permit them to name the amount of grant they will get?
Mr. Ryan
No. The Minister is well aware there are very few secondary schools in the luxury class in Dublin. Most of the schools to which Deputy Byrne and I refer are schools that cater for workingclass people who wish to give their children a secondary education. They have been asked for an increase in fees of from 25 per cent to 33? per cent, while the Minister admits he is giving only a 20 per cent increase in the capitation grants, which is only a small percentage of the increase.
It would be 30 per cent less under Fine Gael.
Mr. Ryan
It is a pity the Minister for External Affairs does not spend more time in Ireland and he would know more about it. He knows nothing about it when he is living in the lap of luxury abroad.
It does not affect you when you are in the Waldorf Astoria in New York but it does when you are sending your children to school in Ireland.
Would the Deputy state what costs to school authorities have gone up ? The capitation grants and the incremental salaries, both paid by the State, have been increased.