Vol. 492 No. 2
156 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Education and Science the measures, if any, he will introduce to provide proper funding for primary schools in order to stop the situation where the parents of children attending a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 have had to launch a paint our school appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13756/98]
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. This increased capitation funding which I have provided for this year is reflected in the fact that the school referred to by the Deputy received a total of £40,140 in respect of 892 pupils in 1997. In the current year the school has already received £30,310 in capitation funding while a further £12,990 will be paid at the end of June, bringing the total to £43,300. In effect, the school will this year receive £3,160 over and above last year's allocation despite the fact that its enrolment has declined from 892 to 866 pupils. I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to seek further improvements in the level of capitation funding for primary schools.
