Vol. 501 No. 6
421 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to increase the capitation grant in relation to primary education in order to alleviate the necessity for fundraising by parents and teachers and to eliminate the gap which exists between funding for primary and secondary schools; when he will introduce these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6981/99]
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 reflected by the fact that I obtained an increase of £5 in the standard rate of capitation grant in 1998 and a further £10 increase in 1999 which has brought the standard capitation grant to £60 per pupil. This constitutes a 33 per cent increase in the grant, since I assumed office. These increases in the capitation grant represent major steps in the process of increasing funding at primary level. I would point out to the Deputy that this capitation was frozen in 1997.
In relation to the difference in grant between secondary and primary schools it is important to note that this difference reflects the fact that maintenance costs for second-level schools are much greater on a unit-cost basis. In addition, the second-level capitation payment is required to cover a different range of expenditures.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to continuing to effect significant improvements in the level of funding at primary level over the coming years.
