asked the Minister for Education if he will outline in respect of each financial year since 1922-23, the percentage of gross national product spent on education in respect of capital and current expenditure.
26.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Expenditure on Education .
25.
asked the Minister for Education if he will outline for each financial year since 1923-24 the percentage of the budget spent through the Department of Education.
: With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 26 together.
The statistics required in order to supply the information requested by the Deputy are not available for the early years of the State.
Information in relation to the period 1970 to date is given in reply to Question No. 8 of 5 November 1980.
: That is interesting. Can the Minister say why the figures are not available for the period prior to 1970? Surely the machinery of the civil service has been in action since the early twenties? To say we have not got those figures is rather disturbing.
: It would not be disturbing if the Deputy studied the economic history of the State because no distinction was made between those two expenditures for a long time.
: In his reply the Minister gave figures since 1970 only. Surely there are figures for the period prior to 1970?
: Not since the foundation of the State. I have given the figures in my reply in which I also indicated why they have not been available since the foundation of the State.
: Will the Minister undertake to contact me on this matter?
: I shall.