Vol. 440 No. 1
172 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to exempt schools from the payment of a television licence in respect of a television exclusively used for the pupils' education; if she will make the necessary arrangements in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Under existing legislation, there is no distinction made between television sets used as monitors for videos and those used to receive television programmes. Any provision to exempt schools from the requirement to purchase television licences would require a change in present legislation, which would be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. Officials of my Department are having discussions with the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht at present with a view to examining the possibilities of granting such exemption to schools.
The costs of purchasing television licences are part of the normal running costs of schools, which are covered under the scheme of capitation grants. In this regard, I would remind the Deputy that I secured a further increase in this grant for 1994, and I will continue to seek improvements to this grant as resources permit.
In line with my policy of giving priority assistance and extra supports to the disadvantaged. I have decided, as an exceptional matter, to refund this year the cost of their television licence to schools which are in designated areas of disadvantage.
