asked the Minister for Education whether he proposes to meet any of the requests for additional financial assistance for private secondary schools made by the CSPA and the National Federation of Christian Brothers' Parents' Councils.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Private Secondary Schools.
4.
It has been decided to increase the grant in lieu of tuition fees from £70 to £77 with effect from the commencement of the school year 1981-82.
Will the Minister tell the House why a sum to provide for this increase does not appear in the current Book of Estimates? Will the Minister be introducing a Supplementary Estimate to meet the additional charges?
I am satisfied that the amount of money provided in the Book of Estimates will cover adequately the increase in the grant in lieu of tuition fees.
Will the Minister accept that his proposed increase to £77 falls far short of the £92.10p which the schools in question are looking for? Is this his final answer to their request?
I am satisfied that all the demands on the Department of Education are greater than the amounts given and this is a common factor.
Is the Minister saying that their demand was unreasonable?
I am saying that I am adequately catering for the schools in the increase in the grant in lieu of tuition fees and that it has been my pleasure to increase that substantially.
Is the Minister saying that the demand of the schools is unreasonable?
Does the Minister realise that the demand from the secondary school sector was 33? per cent and he is only granting them an increase of 10 per cent?
I am satisfied that over the years I have made substantial increases in the grant in lieu of tuition fees. The £7 increase will operate from the beginning of the 1981-82 school year.
Will the Minister say when the grant was last increased and the rate of inflation since that increase?
The grant has been increased by 54 per cent by me in that period, a substantial increase.
It is not. It amounts to a paltry increase.