asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the serious financial circumstances of many primary schools in Dublin's north inner city and the assistance she will give to these schools to offset their accumulating debts.
Questions—Ceisteanna. Oral Answers. - Dublin City Schools.
18.
There is provision in this year's Estimates for the payment of an increase of £4 per pupil in the rate of capitation grant payable to ordinary national schools.
I am aware that certain schools in disadvantaged areas of Dublin are in financial difficulty and I am at present considering what further steps are open to me to take in relation to them.
While I appreciate that there has been an increase in the capitation grant available to these schools, the Minister will agree that that will not in any way affect my question which is the problem of accumulated debts which these schools have. The improved capitation grants will do nothing to solve that problem. Rutland Street school in the north inner city has an accumulated debt of £42,500. That school will have to close unless the Minister speeds up his thinking on the matter and agrees to assist the school. In the spirit of the action plan for education announced recently, which indicated that resources would be made available specifically to primary schools in disadvantaged areas, could the Minister indicate what funds have been set aside to allow the Minister to assist schools in these areas and what criteria will be used to allocate those funds?
It has been decided to make a sum of £200,000 available to the diocesan authorities in Dublin, Cork and Limerick towards the clearance of school debts. While no decision has been taken yet as to the division of this money between the three dioceses, the question of allocating amounts to individual schools would be a matter for the appropriate authority. I accept the Deputy's point in relation to the serious burden on the school and I will convey his views to the Minister. However, I refer the Deputy to my reply. I am aware that certain schools in disadvantaged areas of Dublin are in financial difficulties and I am considering what further steps are open to me to take in relation to them.
Does the Minister agree that the position in some of the schools, particularly Rutland Street, is now very serious. Given that the debt is over £42,500 and that the school is faced with closure, could the Minister indicate how long more it will take before a decision can be reached and a positive response made to the management of the various inner city schools in Dublin indicating what financial assistance will be made to offset their accumulated debts?
As I informed the Deputy in my reply, the Minister is considering ways and means of coming to the aid of schools mentioned by the Deputy. I am not aware of the problems of the particular schools mentioned by the Deputy but if he will give me details I will convey them to the Minister for Education. However, I should remind the House that the biggest increase ever — over 23 per cent — was made in the capitation grant this year. I know this will not satisfy the Deputy because of the very serious problem which he has mentioned, but the Minister is considering what further steps are open to her to take in relation to the problem mentioned by the Deputy.
I should like to point out that the information I gave here has been made available to the Minister's Department. Indeed, a deputation of managers——
The Deputy cannot make a speech.
I am leading into the question, a Cheann Comhairle. A deputation of school managers went to see the Minister over a year ago indicating the spiralling debts involved which are now at a critical stage. Could the Minister indicate when he hopes to make a decision in this regard? Could he give a time limit within which he could agree to make a decision as to what financial assistance will be made to these schools?
As I have already pointed out, the biggest increase ever — 23 per cent — was made this year in respect of capitation grants. I am not in a position to say when further aid will be made available except to say that the Minister is considering the matter. I will convey the Deputy's views to the Minister and communicate with him subsequently.
19.
asked the Minister for Education if she will agree that St. Laurence O'Toole's No. 2 school urgently needs suitable alternative premises; and if she will allocate £27,000 to acquire local property to house this special school which is doing exceptional work in very difficult circumstances in the Sheriff Street area, Dublin 1.
Alternative premises are needed for the school and I hope to arrange for the use of premises which I understand will be available from Easter 1984.
Could the Minister indicate what premises are involved?
I hope the Deputy appreciates that it would not be possible to name the premises whilst negotiations are taking place. However, I am reasonably confident that the premises will be acquired and will be available for the use mentioned in the Deputy's question.
Will the Minister give a commitment that if the negotiations regarding the premises in question fall through, suitable alternative premises will be found for this school, given that the conditions are most inadequate at the moment, located in the Sheriff Street flats complex?
I am aware of the position as mentioned by the Deputy but I am confident that the present negotiations will provide a suitable building for the school in question. At this stage I do not contemplate failure on that matter. I understand the premises will be available for Easter 1984 and I suggest to the Deputy that he should leave it at that.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.