Mary Harney
Question:39 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Education her views on the growing dependence on parents' voluntary fundraising efforts to equip schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21186/96]
Vol. 471 No. 6
39 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Education her views on the growing dependence on parents' voluntary fundraising efforts to equip schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21186/96]
I am fully aware of the ongoing demands for increased funding from primary and second level schools. However, I must point out that, notwithstanding the many competing demands on budgetary resources, since becoming Minister for Education, I have been able to secure significant increase in funding for both primary and second level schools.
At primary level my Department provides funding towards the day-to-day running costs of schools through capitation grants. Since 1992 I have been able to increase the capitation rate for primary schools from a level of £28 per pupil in 1992 to £45 per pupil in 1996. This amounts to an increase of 60 per cent over the period in question. Furthermore, I have introduced special higher rates of grant for schools serving areas which are designated as disadvantaged. The rate of grant for such schools currently stands at £75 per pupil.
A local contribution of £10 per pupil, or £9.50 in the case of schools designated as disadvantaged, complements the capitation grant. These rates represent a freezing of the local contribution for 1996 at its 1995 level.
In addition, I have increased by 18 per cent the capitation rate for voluntary secondary schools from £150 in 1992 to £177 in 1996. In January 1994 I provided an additional capitation grant of £15 per pupil to schools designated as disadvantaged. This additional grant was increased to £30 from January 1996.