Vol. 321 No. 10
asked the Minister for Education if he will confirm that £65,165 was originally invested under the terms of The Erasmus Smith Schools Act, 1941, for the benefit of the Tipperary grammar school, now known as Abbey School CBS, Tipperary town; and the present value of the balance of this fund to the school.
350.
asked the Minister for Education the to-date position of The Erasmus Smith Schools Act, 1941, in relation to the Abbey School CBS, Tipperary town.
351.
asked the Minister for Education if the funds accruing from the terms of The Erasmus Smith Schools Act, 1941, can now be utilised to defray the costs of the extension at present in progress at the Abbey School CBS, Tipperary town.
352.
asked the Minister for Education if he will give details of the disposal of the income accruing from the terms of The Erasmus Smith Schools Act, 1941, since the inception of the fund, in relation to the Abbey School CBS, Tipperary.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take questions Nos. 349, 350 351 and 352 together.
It is not the case that the Erasmus Smith Trust Funds were intended by the Erasmus Smith Schools Act Scheme of 1941 to be used exclusively for the benefit of the Abbey School, Tipperary. This school's reconstruction, following a fire, and the upkeep of agricultural education therein, were included among the trusts of the scheme.
Twenty-one thousand pounds was paid by the Minister towards the reconstruction of the Abbey School in the financial year 1953-54. The Minister is also empowered under the scheme to pay an annual subsidy not exceeding £580 towards the costs and expenses of carrying on and maintaining special agricultural teaching and training in the school and this has been paid every year since the school year 1942-43.
In addition, certain supplementary payments totalling £10,183 were made by the Minister from the unexpended balances of the endowment funds towards building and other costs incurred by the authorities of the Abbey School over the years 1953-54 to 1971-72.
The trust scheme provided also for the provision of certain scholarships. Consequent on the introduction of free post-primary education and schemes of grants for higher education this provision is no longer considered necessary. The question of revision of the scheme to take account of this circumstance is under consideration.
The balance of the funds accruing to the trust is not available for the purpose of defraying the costs of the extension now in progress at the Abbey School.
