andDr. O'Connell asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of providing educational facilities and grants on the scale obtaining at present in the six northeastern counties of Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Educational Grants.
56.
Dr. Browne
Because of the different manner in which education is organised and financed in the two areas of the country it is not possible to make any valid assessment of the relevant costs.
Is this matter being further studied with a view to trying to make an assessment?
The Deputy will appreciate that it is very difficult to make this type of assessment because there are so many variations in the manner in which education is organised in the North and here. It is one thing to assess the situation generally and quite another to spell out the costs in a realistic manner.
Is any work going on to identify the major areas of significant difference?
The fact that I am aware of the differences between the two systems shows that we are keeping a close watch on the situation.
Is the unit the Taoiseach referred to dealing with it?
I suppose this would be a general type of thing. I cannot say whether it is or not.
Surely it is possible to ascertain at the very least—I know it is not what the Deputy wants—the per capita expenditure of the State in the Six Counties and the per capita expenditure of the State in the Twenty-six Counties in respect of university students. Has the Minister that figure?
It might be possible to get that figure but the general situation is that, for example, the only form of education here which is under a local authority is vocational education; in the North the local authorities are involved at primary and post-primary level. We shall have to take into consideration the contribution from the private sector to the cost of education which is greater here. Salaries represent a high proportion of educational costs and our salaries happen to be higher here. There are various other matters which have to be considered.