asked the Minister for Education if he will state the cost per student for the year 1971-72, or the most recent year, of providing education in (a) secondary, (b) vocational and (c) comprehensive schools; if he will distinguish between current costs and capital costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Education Costs.
58.
The estimated average subsidy from public funds for 1971-72 in the case of:
(a) a secondary school student was £131 in respect of current expenditure and £14 in respect of capital expenditure;
(b) a vocational school student was £176 in respect of current expenditure and £18 in respect of capital expenditure;
(c) a comprehensive school student was £151 in respect of current expenditure; as many of the building schemes in the case of comprehensive schools were either just completed or in the course of completion during that year and as accordingly a full complement of pupils had not by then begun to attend the schools the average cost per pupil related to capital expenditure is for comparison purposes of no relevance. In relation to the numbers actually in attendance it worked out at £329 per head.
In relation to the proposed community schools, has the Minister made any estimate of the per capita costs under current and capital expenditure?
I could not make a firm estimate at present because the contract stage has not been reached.