asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in the payment of arrears of capitation grants to primary schools which are financed by means of such grants.
72.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Capitation Grants.
71.
asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in the payment of arrears of capitation grants to Adare CBS primary school, County Limerick.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together.
The introduction of a computerised system of payment for teachers' salaries and other grants in connection with national schools gave rise to delay in relation to some items of payment, including grants to schools paid under the capitation system. I regret that this has happened.
New increased rates of grant have recently been sanctioned with effect from 1st June, 1974, and payment of arrears due on foot of the new rates will be made on or before 11th April. All payments due to date at the old rate of grant have now been made.
Would the Minister not agree that there was gross incompetence and dereliction of duty on the part of the Department of Education in this matter? Would he not agree that if the computer could not be used it should have been a relatively easy task to get 200 letters addressed by clerical officers in the Department? Money is still owed in some instances from November to March.
I do not agree with what the Deputy has said. It is regrettable the delay occurred but, as experience has shown, the change-over to computerisation creates problems and delays in the short-term that are far worse than those that preceded the use of the computer. However, when the system settles down it is accepted that computerisation is more efficient and less costly. In this instance it is unfortunate that the somewhat more complex types of payment that have to be made and revised for the capitation schools suffered from the change-over, whereas the more straightforward arrangements to other schools were undertaken and, in fact, were speeded up by the use of the computer.
Would the Minister not agree that while the computer was being programmed the clerical officers could have been asked to address less than 200 letters a month from November to March? Will the Minister not agree that when this was taken to the market-place there was considerable speed in paying some of the money?
I am not in a position to take the Deputy's point about the 200 letters because my information does not run to that figure——
There were less than 200.
That is the Deputy's research and I am not in a position to confirm or to deny it. If a computerised system is introduced it is not possible to mix it with the old system without causing confusion. I do not profess to understand the reasons for this but this is not the first time in the public or private sector that I have come across this unfortunate phenomenon. The main thing is that the problem is being resolved and will be resolved completely in the near future. I share the concern of the Deputy regarding the delay that has taken place and I accept that it is very unfortunate for the people affected.
Does the Minister not deprecate the "ping-ponging" of responsibility between the Department of Finance and the Department of Education on this matter? It is a minor public scandal.
I am not aware of having played any such game in the last few minutes.