Vol. 532 No. 1
382 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science the primary schools in County Sligo which have benefited under the £6.1 million arts and music grant for primary schools; if funding has been paid to the schools; when the particulars on the use of the grant will be issued to these schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6829/01]
The new £6.1 million arts and music grant which I recently announced was paid to all primary schools in County Sligo. The grant will enable schools to purchase equipment and materials and to initiate activities to enable children to participate in visual arts, music, drama, dance and literature. The grant works out at £13 per pupil with a minimum grant of £780 being provided for schools of under 60 pupils. The grant was lodged to all primary schools' bank accounts in late November.
In the area of music, the grant may be used to support the making of music through instruments such as chime bars, cymbals, triangles, tin whistles. It can also be used to buy listening materials such as compact discs, tapes. Similarly, in the visual arts, schools will be enabled to purchase materials such as brushes, drawing and colouring materials.
It is my intention that schools would, where possible, use some of this money to organise trips to concert halls, art galleries and similar institutions so that children experience music, visual arts, drama, dance and literature in such settings. More detailed guidelines are being finalised by my Department at the moment. These guidelines will issue to all schools shortly and will set out the scope of the grant and the purposes for which it can be used.
