Vol. 529 No. 3
14 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department will pay for all primary school swimming lessons and transfer costs as swimming is on the new school curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2788/01]
Primary schools' running costs are met by the Department's scheme of capitation grants and the local contribution. These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of national schools which include heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, painting, teaching aids and other miscellaneous charges. The capitation grant has been increased substantially since the Government took office in 1997. The grant has been increased from £45 per pupil in 1997 to £75.50 per pupil this school year. In addition, I have announced that a rate of £80 per pupil will apply in the 2001-02 school year. This constitutes an increase of approximately 77% over that period.
In addition almost 2,300 primary schools will receive supplementary grants for the next three years under the major new programme launched by me early last month to address educational disadvantage. The amount of supplementary grant aid payable to each school at the rate of £50 per disadvantaged pupil is based on the levels of concentration of disadvantaged pupils in the school. These were identified through a comprehensive survey conducted on my Department's behalf by the Educational Research Centre, Drumcondra, during 2000.
Furthermore, I introduced an annual physical education grant for all primary schools last year. Under the terms of this grant all schools designated as disadvantaged and schools in the rural phase of the Breaking the Cycle scheme will receive an annual grant of £1,000 per school while all other schools will receive £500 per school. Circular 28/00 which issued from my Department to all schools in October 2000 outlines specific materials or activities on which schools may spend this grant. The circular specifically states that "schools may also wish to use the grant to alleviate the costs incurred with the provision of swimming classes or other similar activities". My Department will shortly make arrangements for the issue of this year's grants to schools.
Additional Information.It would not be feasible for my Department to introduce specific schemes whereby grant assistance would be provided to schools in respect of individual costs such as costs associated with swimming lessons. However, I am satisfied that the increases in the capitation grant referred to above combined with the annual physical education grant to all schools constitute a meaningful response to the need for increased funding for schools.
