Vol. 523 No. 5
136 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Education and Science the level of Government funding provided for the running costs of post-primary schools; the actual costs incurred; and the plans he has to close the gap involved. [21473/00]
The expenditure Estimates for 2000 provide for a significant increase in the level of second level education funding. This funding, excluding teacher pay costs and capital grants, now stands at some £90 million.
The standard per capita grant payable to voluntary secondary schools was increased to £184 from £177 last year and has been further increased by £8 from September this year to £192. Corresponding increases have been made to the budgetary allocations to the other second level sectors. Schools have also generally benefited from the IT 2000 initiative and the library books grant.
I also refer the Deputy to my recent announcement in which I set out details of my significant initiative in which I am putting in place a school services support fund at second level. Schools will now receive additional annual funding of £20 per pupil with a minimum payment of £4,000 per school. This fund will channel an additional £7 million to second level schools each year.
Available data do not facilitate valid comparisons being made between the levels of grants payable by my Department and the actual costs of running schools.
