Vol. 564 No. 5
174 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason the grant for minor capital works has not been paid to schools in County Clare to date; when it will be paid; the amount due to each primary school in County Clare; and if he can provide this information in tabular form. [9699/03]
The position regarding the grant scheme for minor works is set out in the 2003 school building programme which was published in January.
The programme shows that €18.1 million has been provided for the payment of the full grant. The programme also identifies explicitly that there are two parts to the grant –€12.5 million for payment of the standard grant of €3,809 to each school and €5.6 million for payment of the per capita element at €12.70 per pupil.
The published programme also made clear that an expenditure review of the scheme, involving inspections of up to 300 schools, would be undertaken in the early part of the year. The purpose of the review is to ensure that the best use is being made of these funds by schools and to adjust the scheme in line with any recommendations that arise from the review. The review is about ensuring best practice and making the scheme as effective as possible. The published programme unambiguously states that the review is in the context of maintaining overall expenditure on the scheme at the same levels as in previous years.
Arrangements for this review are being finalised currently. It is intended to complete it before the end of the current school year.
