asked the Minister for Education if he will consider increasing substantially the annual maintenance grants for primary schools in view of the difficulties experienced by school managers in raising money to supplement the present grants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Maintenance Grants.
33.
Mr. Kitt
Mr. R. Burke
The amount provided in the current financial year for the heating, cleaning and painting of national schools represents an increase of £99,600 over that made available in 1972-73. The question whether it may be possible to allow further improvements in the rates of these grants in the forthcoming financial year will be considered in connection with the preparation of the Estimates for that year.
Mr. Kitt
Would the Minister tell me on what basis those grants are allocated? Is it a percentage of the total expenditure by the manager, is it on the average number on the roll, or is it on the number of rooms in the school?
Mr. R. Burke
Circular 12/73 deals with this matter. It is a notice to managers. The grants are based on the number of classrooms and this deals with special amounts of money for external painting and internal painting respectively.
Mr. Kitt
Would it not be more equitable to give a percentage of the total expenditure each year by the manager? I know the painting grants are paid only every so many years, but I am talking about the annual maintenance grants for heating and cleaning and paying labour. We all know the cost of materials and the cost of labour has gone up. I have a case in the city of Dublin where the manager is getting £900 and spending £4,500.
I want to help the Deputy to elicit further information but he may not make a long statement.
Mr. Kitt
I will give the figures later to the Minister. I would ask him to look at it on that basis.
Mr. R. Burke
The rules for national schools provide that a school manager is responsible for making arrangements for the collection of such funds locally in supplement of the State grant as will ensure that school premises will be adequately heated and cleaned and kept in a proper condition.
Mr. Kitt
Would the Minister not agree that the manager should not have to collect £4,500 every year from poor people and only get a grant of £900.
Mr. R. Burke
I am aware that managers of national schools would like if the State could increase its grant in respect of national schools, but if I were to meet the requests which are before me now I would have to increase the grant five-fold, which is not something I can do readily.