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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 Feb 2003

Vol. 562 No. 3

Written Answers - Grant Payments.

John Gormley

Question:

15 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to increase the devolved grant provided to schools in view of the increase in inflation and running costs. [5889/03]

The grant scheme for minor works to national school properties came into operation in January 1997. The scheme was subsequently reviewed in 2000.

The current level of funding is €3,809 per school plus €12.70 per pupil enrolled at 30 September of the year prior to the issue of the grant. The annual cost is in the region of €18 million. The purpose of the grant is to enable school authorities to undertake regular minor capital improvement works at local level. My Department intends to conduct an expenditure review of the scheme this year involving inspections at up to 300 primary schools. The scheme will be adjusted as appropriate having regard to the outcome of this review.

Significant improvements in the levels of other direct funding to schools have been made in recent years. The standard rate of capitation grant for primary schools was substantially increased from €57.14 per pupil in 1997 to €111.58 per pupil in 2003. This represented an increase of 95% in the standard rate of capitation grant at primary level over the period.

At post-primary level, schools have also benefited from increases in the standard per capita grant. The grant was increased from €224.74 per pupil in 1997 to €256.49 in September 2001, and was further increased by €10 from September 2002 to €266.49. For a school with 500 pupils, this amounts to an extra €20,875 per annum, and a total capitation grant of €133,245 towards general expenses. An additional per capita grant of €38.09 per pupil is paid to disadvantaged schools bringing the total grant in the case of such a school with 500 pupils to €152,290.

This Government is intent on implementing further significant increases in line with the commitment given in An Agreed Programme for Government. The Deputy will appreciate that this commitment relates to the term of office of the Government and its implementation will be considered in the context of the Estimates process over that period.

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