Vol. 490 No. 2
315 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will compare the capitation fee payable by his Department for children in primary school to that payable for those at second level; the proposals, if any, he has to improve the capitation fees for primary pupils in view of the fact that heat, light and cleaning costs are the same for each type of school. [10120/98]
The standard rate of capitation grant at primary level is £50 per pupil. At second level, the standard rate of capitation grant is £177 per pupil.
The Government's commitment to giving primary education a clear priority in the allocation of resources is set out in the policy document An Action Programme for the Millennium.
This commitment is clearly reflected in the 1998 Estimates, where I have provided for an overall increase of almost 12 per cent in expenditure on primary education versus the 1997 budget allocation. In this context, the 11 per cent increase in the standard rate of capitation grant at primary level represents an important step forward in the process of increasing capitation funding at primary level.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to give priority to the issue of further increases in the capitation grant to primary schools.
