asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that the amount of State expenditure proposed for 1972-73 on the cleaning, heating and painting of primary schools represents an expenditure of £1 per child which compares with £12 per child spent on such schools in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Primary School Upkeep.
49.
For any comparison with the position in Northern Ireland to be valid it would have to take the whole situation in relation to voluntary and maintained schools into consideration and not one element.
Our national schools system here is based on local trusteeship which involves a local contribution towards the upkeep of schools. That the local contribution helps to lessen the load on the general taxpayer does not take from the fact that it is the general public one way or another that is paying for the upkeep of schools. The Department's grants towards the heating and cleaning of schools is by way of supplementing local aid. The rates of grant were increased by 20 per cent in the current year.
Is the Minister not aware of the recent criticism in relation to such finance being made available for the maintenance of national schools? Is he further aware that the position at the moment is most unsatisfactory as far as national school managers are concerned and is he aware that the position in Northern Ireland is much better than it is here?
As I said before, it is difficult to compare like with like in a situation such as this. I am, of course, aware of criticism but, as I pointed out, we have increased the grants this year.
The position is most unsatisfactory.