Dinny McGinley
Question:143 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has for increased funding for the teaching of music as an examination subject in second level schools.
Written Answers. - Teaching of Music.
Apart from the equipment and resource grant allocation, the Department does not provide recurrent grants for the teaching of individual subjects. There are annual grants available for the setting up and maintenance of school orchestras and military bands. Also, there is a bonus scheme for choirs in secondary schools which enter for the Department's special examinations.
A total of almost £3 million was paid by my Department by way of special resource grants in respect of each school year from 1989-90 to assist in the introduction of the junior certificate programme. Payment of the special grant ceased when the programme had been introduced in all subjects in the junior cycle in 1992.
I also wish to remind the Deputy that the provision for running costs of secondary schools has been increased by 9 per cent in the 1994 budget.