Vol. 251 No. 7
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of delays by his Department in the payment of heating, cleaning and repair grants to managers of national schools; and if he will introduce arrangements to expedite payment of such grants in future.
25.
asked the Minister for Education how many grants were paid to school managers for heating and cleaning during the week commencing Thursday, 4th February, 1971.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 25 together.
Due to pressure of work arising out of the payment of arrears of salary and allowances to national teachers, some delay occurred in the payment of heating and cleaning grants to managers in respect of the 1969-70 school-year.
Grants were paid to school managers for heating and cleaning in the case of 27 schools during the week commencing Thursday, 4th February, 1971.
Grants are not payable for repairs to national schools. The capital grants payable in respect of these schools relate to building, improvement or extension and painting.
It is obvious from the reply to my question that 27 payments were made but could the Minister state if all applicants are paid?
All the applicants who made application. Just in case it might be suggested I was trying to cloak some information, I wish to state that the vast bulk of these grants were sent out on 1st February. This had nothing to do with the Deputy's question.
There was a great rush.
There is a small number yet to be paid and in these cases formal investigation has to take place.
The Minister said last week that all grants were paid. Is that correct?
The Minister said that all who claimed were paid. The information I was given is that they were all paid. Subsequently I found that those 27 had been passed for payment. I was given that information from the relevant section of the office and it was a couple of days later when the actual payable orders issued.
Will the Minister not agree that there is a lengthy delay in payment of these grants?
I have already explained why the delay occurred.
The delay has not just occurred this year—it has been happening for many years.
I do not accept that.
Further, is the Minister aware that the managers of these schools pay for the work that is carried out? They have to wait for their money from the Department in question for a very long time in many cases.
I agree there was a delay this year. As I explained it was due to the fact that there was a considerable amount of arrears to be paid. I was much more concerned with getting the arrears out to the pensioned teachers and this took quite some time. I regret the fact that there was delay.
