asked the Minister for Education the plans he has to make heating grants available to secondary schools to compensate for the increase in fuel costs.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - School Grants and Fees.
66.
I have no plans to make heating grants available to secondary schools.
It is not proposed to introduce a special scheme for the payment of grants to secondary schools in addition to the capitation grants and grants in lieu of tuition fees payable to such schools.
67.
asked the Minister for Education when he proposes to increase the capitation grants for pupils in secondary schools.
68.
asked the Minister for Education when he proposes to increase the tuition fees for pupils in secondary schools which are participating in the free secondary school scheme.
69.
asked the Minister for Education if, in order to compensate for the increase in the cost of living, he proposes to raise the ceiling for secondary school fees beyond the increase already announced for September, 1974; and, if so, when the further increase may take effect.
70.
asked the Minister for Education if he will increase boarding school grants from £165 to £250 to compensate for increased costs.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 68, 69 and 70 together.
The question of raising these grants is under consideration and I hope to be able to make a statement on the matter shortly.
What does the Parliamentary Secretary mean by "shortly"?
I would say within a few weeks.
Secondly, does the Parliamentary Secretary intend to differentiate between capitation grants and tuition fees?
The Minister will be making an announcement and I think it would be best if the Deputy would wait for that announcement.
Question No. 69 deals with something apart from the payment of moneys by the Department and would the Parliamentary Secretary not make a separate statement in regard to it instead of lumping it in with the others? Would he not consider getting a separate answer for me?
I think the subject matter of Question No. 69 is one of the matters which will be covered by the Minister's announcement.
71.
asked the Minister for Education if he intends to raise the upper income figure for eligibility in respect of higher education grants; and, if not, why.
It is not at present proposed to increase the income levels for the purposes of the higher education grants scheme but the matter is being kept under review.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary accept, in those circumstances that the scheme now is not as attractive as it was last year having regard to the diminishing value of money?
The Deputy will be aware that the Minister has made an announcement in relation to an increase in the grants which are being paid, as distinct from the income limits, which is something which has been welcomed.
The Parliamentary Secretary has not answered my question. Would he accept that the scheme now is not as attractive and that we are excluding people this year who would have been eligible last year because we have not made the change in the appropriate salary structure?
One could argue equally that by combining an increase in the rate of grants with the measure which is being taken in relation to the subject matter of this question, the Department are concentrating their resources on those in greatest need.
Here is an example of the Parliamentary Secretary answering a question which was not posed but not answering the question which was put.
The Deputy asked me to give an opinion. I do not think it is for me to give an opinion on that matter.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that there is an injustice where the higher education grant is taken from a higher diploma student when he is compelled by the nature of his job, to board in the school in which he works?
That is a very specific question which I think would be appropriate to another parliamentary question or to specific representations from the Deputy——
I have it framed.