asked the Minister for Education if, having regard to the special position of national schools in the Finglas, Glasnevin, Ballymun and Navan Road areas of Dublin, he will arrange for an increase in the capitation grant payable.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Schools.
6.
As stated in my reply of 16th February, 1977, the rates of the various grants provided for primary schools are reviewed each year in connection with the preparation of the Estimates for my Department. The provision in the current year's Estimates will enable payment of the grant towards the operating costs of national schools to be made on the basis of the rates which applied in 1976. A scheme such as this must be of general application, and I am unable to accede to the Deputy's request that schools in certain areas should be treated more generously than others.
When was the present capitation grant introduced?
It was introduced in 1975.
It was announced in 1974 and introduced in 1975. Has there been any increase since?
I have not got the information here. I think there has but I am not sure.
The Minister's predecessor succeeded in extracting from the Minister for Finance a promise that a provision would be made for this but the money was never paid.
That is right. Some extra money was in the Estimates but it was switched to something else.
I do not think there was a change since it was introduced except in the case of small schools.
I am sure the Minister will appreciate that in regard to the schools to which I refer one or two in that area were run down. There were rooms which were not occupied for years but, because of pressure in the Finglas south area, where there are no schools, students have been sent into the old school. The children are being educated there in conditions which the Minister or anybody else in the House would not like. The maintenance of those schools must surely be a special case. Would the Minister have a look at it?
I will certainly have a look at it but I think increasing the capitation grant in particular schools or in the case of a particular area would not be the answer to the Deputy's problem.
Would the Minister accept that in all the primary schools at the moment it seems to the children that the boards of management are more concerned about having money collected to run the outfit rather than to educate the children? This is not very desirable but is peculiar to all primary schools.
The Deputy might have a discussion with Deputy Brennan as to how the money should be allocated.
Would the Minister not accept——
Can we please get on to another question?
——that the Constituttion gives every child the right to a primary education? It also requires the State to provide primary education for our children. If it can be indicated that the establishments in which this is occurring are not fit for the purpose, there is an obligation on the Minister and on all of us to see that that position is corrected.
Can we have brief questions, please?
There are particular problems in Finglas. I will have a look at them. They have not been drawn to my attention.