Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 November 2004
174 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in Dublin 9 will receive the maximum support in 2005, particularly with regard to funding, staffing, building and educational facilities, and for the support of the parents, teachers and pupils of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29509/04]
View answerThe second level school to which the Deputy refers is the recipient of considerable supports from my Department in terms of current and capital funding and extra teaching resources. Currently, it receives €119,122.84 per annum capitation grant together with a range of supports under the school services support initiative totalling €105,483.11. In addition, it receives a range of equalisation grants of over €14,000 per annum. A measure of the increase in overall current funding for a school of this size and type is that by comparison with 1997, it now receives extra funding of over €105,000 per annum.
With regard to teaching resources, the school applied for and received a curricular concession allocation of 1.37 whole time equivalent teacher posts. It was also allocated 0.66 whole time equivalent teaching posts to cater for students with special educational needs. In terms of capital grant aid, the school has received over €1,747,000 since 1998 for a range of projects, including an extension project, refurbishment of a science laboratory, dust extraction and physical education hall works.
The school currently has an application with my Department for the provision of a computer room. This application is being considered as part of a review of all projects which did not proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme. Under this review, all projects are being assessed against the published prioritisation criteria which were revised earlier this year following consultation with the education partners. Each project will be assigned a band rating and the progress of all projects will be considered in the context of the school building programme from 2005 onwards.
