asked the Minister for Education his Department's contribution to the costs of providing sites for (i) primary schools (ii) secondary schools (iii) vocational schools, and (iv) community schools; and if he will make a statement in the matter with particular reference to the dates on which the percentage contribution of his Department was last changed and by what amount.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Provision of School Sites.
4.
The State does not provide a grant towards the cost of sites for national or secondary schools.
The cost of sites for vocational schools is met by vocational education committees from the funds at their disposal.
In the case of those community schools already arranged for, no local contribution has been sought towards the cost of the site.
Is the Minister aware of the immense hardship which is being caused by promoters of schools, especially in urban areas where they are called upon to get a lot of money together to purchase a site, which is holding back educational progress and the provision of education for many children in our cities?
I agree that the cost of sites in urban areas is very high but in accordance with the rules of national schools grants are not sanctioned towards the cost of obtaining sites for schools or of any abnormal works arising out of clearing, levelling or otherwise rendering suitable, school sites. That is the existing rule.
Does the Minister intend to change his approach in relation to the provision of at least part of the money for buying school sites in view of the rapid increase in inflation and the hardship which such sites are causing school managers?
It would be rash of me after such a short time in office to ignore the concatenation of wisdom of Ministers that came before me and changed in a matter of a few weeks.
Did I understand the Minister to say that the present policy of the Government is not to make any money available for the purchase of primary school sites and that he has no intention of making such contributions in future?
My reply was, if the Ceann Comhairle permits me to repeat it: The State does not provide a grant towards the cost of sites for national or secondary schools. The cost of sites for vocational schools is met by vocational education committees from the funds at their disposal. In the case of those community schools already arranged for, no local contribution has been sought towards the cost of the site.