Vol. 492 No. 1
246 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason Scoil Chiaráin, Donnycarney, Dublin 5 and Our Lady of Consolation national school, Donnycarney, Dublin 5, are not paid the full capitation fee normally payable to national schools; the method whereby the diocesan contribution to catholic national schools is decided; and the level of this contribution. [13443/98]
I can confirm that both Scoil Chiaráin and Our Lady of Consolation national school are paid the normal capitation grant of £50 per pupil which includes an 11 per cent increase in 1997. In addition, both schools are also included in the disadvantaged areas scheme and are therefore entitled to a supplementary capitation grant of £30 per pupil.
Each school in the disadvantaged area scheme is advised by my Department to utilise this supplementary grant as follows:- £9 per pupil to be used towards the purchase of materials-equip-ment, £16 per pupil to be used towards the running costs of the school, £5 per pupil towards the promotion of Home-School-Community liaison activities.
The supplementary capitation grant is issued to each school in the disadvantaged areas scheme on an annual basis at the beginning of each school year.
School authorities are required by my Department to supplement these grants with a local contribution, which traditionally stood at 25 per cent of the standard grant. However, this local contribution has remained unchanged since 1995 at £10 per pupil in the case of mainstream national schools, and £9.50 per pupil in the case of schools designated as disadvantaged, and has not been increased in line with the standard grant.
