Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 4

Written Answers. - Capitation Grants.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

396 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to the Adjourment Debate on 23 April 1998, he will allow for the provision of a caretaker and clerical assistance to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 4; when these appointments will be made; the reason £15 per pupil has not increased since the scheme was introduced in 1992; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20080/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The Programme for Economic and Social Progress provided for the introduction of a phased scheme of additional capitation grants with a view to expanding the provision of caretaking and clerical services to all primary schools with 100 pupils or more.

The priority has been to extend the scheme to include schools which have no provision for these services already rather than increase the per capita grant rate of £30 per pupil, £15 per pupil in respect of each service. In this regard the scheme has been extended to include more schools by reducing the qualifying enrolment figure, to the current figure of 195 pupils.

Unfortunately the school referred to by the Deputy does not qualify for an additional capitation grant for either clerical or caretaking services at this stage as its enrolment of 102 pupils is well below the qualifying threshold.

I am committed to further improvements in this programme until such time as all national schools of 100 pupils or over will ultimately be grant assisted towards the cost of clerical and caretaking services.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

397 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to increase the standard capitation grant of £50 for a primary school pupil in view of the fact that the capitation grant for a secondary school pupil is £177, a difference of £127 per child and the fact that primary schools have increasing costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20081/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The Deputy will be aware that An Action Programme for the Millennium contains a commitment to give primary education a clear priority in the allocation of resources. In the context of the 1999 Estimates, I am examining a range of options, including the level of capitation rates to primary schools, with a view to identifying appropriate ways to fulfil this commitment.

The Government's commitment in this regard was clearly reflected in the 1998 Estimates, which provided for an overall increase of almost 12 per cent in expenditure on primary education. In this context, the 11 per cent increase in the standard rate of capitation grant represented an important step forward in the process of improving funding of the primary sector. It is important to note, however, that the difference in grant level between primary and post primary levels reflects the fact that maintenance costs for second-level schools are much greater on a unit cost basis than those in primary schools. In addition, the second-level capitation payment is required to cover a different range of expenditures including paying a portion of each teacher's salary.

I will continue to give priority to the issue of further increases in the capitation grant to primary schools.