Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2004
159 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the financial difficulties being experienced by a school (details supplied) in Dublin 22 in which parents, in addition to being asked for weekly financial contributions, are also being asked to take over the cleaning of the school; and if he will make additional funding available to the school to facilitate this essential service. [18521/04]
View answerAs there are two national schools in the area referred to by the Deputy — junior and senior — it is not clear to which the Deputy is referring. My attention has not been drawn to financial difficulties being experienced by either school. In addition to capitation grants, both of these schools receive additional funding under the disadvantage initiative scheme.
Primary schools' running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. 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 in recent years. In the case of primary schools, the standard rate of capitation grant has been increased from €57 in 1997 to €121.58 per pupil from 1 January last. This represents an increase of almost 113% over the period. I am committed to improving further the funding position of primary schools in the context of available resources.
