asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the present basis on which capitation grants are paid to schools with particular reference to the requirement of raising a local contribution; if the local contribution is differentiated between different areas in accordance with the different revenue raising potential of individual areas.
Written Answers. - Capitation Grants.
339.
The handbook "Boards of Management of National Schools — Constitution of Boards and Rules of Procedure" states:
A local contribution towards operating-expenses, equivalent to at least 25 per cent of the State capitation grant, must be lodged each year in a bank account in the name of the school, save that the Minister may accept a smaller local contribution in the case of certain categories of school, e.g. special schools. The sum required to meet the local contribution shall be provided by the parish community or other appropriate analogous community or body from general funds at the disposal of such community or body and there shall be no levy on parents of children attending the school.
The same maximum local contribution applies to all national schools.
Per capita grants are paid to secondary schools in the free post-primary education scheme at the rate of £140 per eligible pupil per annum. There is no requirement in the scheme that a local contribution should be raised.