Ned O'Keeffe
Question:137 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department will pay a bill in respect of a primary school (details supplied) in County Cork. [14147/03]
Written Answers. - Capitation Grants.
Primary schools' running costs are met by my Department's capitation grant scheme and the local contribution. The grants are intended to contribute to the general operating costs of national schools, including heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, painting, teaching aids and other miscellaneous charges. The capitation grant has been increased substantially in recent years – the standard rate increased from €57.14 in 1997 to €111.58 in 2003, an increase of 95% in the capitation grant. Local authority service and other charges payable to the local authorities do not come within the remit of the Department. The local authorities decide whether schools are liable to pay such charges. Where it is decided that schools are liable for such charges, the cost forms part of the normal running costs of schools and falls to be met from the capitation funding received by schools from the Department. It is not feasible for the Department to introduce specific schemes whereby grant assistance would be provided to schools in respect of individual charges such as water or refuse charges.