asked the Minister for Education if he will increase the fuel grant per pupil from £2.00 to £2.25 applicable for the school year 1980-1981 as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Schools Fuel Grant.
18.
A grant of £2 per pupil was made to secondary schools in December 1979 as a special payment towards the increase in heating costs. It was not intended that a separate grant should be instituted for this purpose but that it should be incorporated in the amount of the general capitation grant to secondary schools. The capitation grant for the current school year 1980-1981 was increased accordingly from £30 to £32.
The amounts of the grants — capitation grant and grant in lieu of tuition fees —payable to secondary schools are reviewed annually in the context of the Estimates for the educational services for the relevant years. The next review will take place in connection with decisions on the Estimates for 1981.
Am I to take it from the Minister's reply that the special fuel grant given last year will not be given for the year 1980-81?
What the Deputy can take from my reply is that there is not a special fuel grant but that the costs of fuel are to be borne by the grants mentioned in my reply and that they will be considered when the Estimates for 1981 are under consideration.
Last year the Minister gave a £2 capitation grant for heating fuel.
That is not so.
A question please, Deputy. I do not want an argument.
Does the Minister intend withdrawing that grant this year?
Last year £2 was added to the grant from which normally heating costs are met and that £2 was included in the 1980 Estimates but what the amount of the grant will be is a matter that will be decided in connection with the Estimates for 1981.
Taking the facts as outlined, is it not fair to assume from the reply that the Minister is assuming that the cost of fuel will be constant in 1981 compared with the year in which that supplementary grant was introduced? In other words, the amount, effectively, is the same though it comes under a different heading.
The Deputy is being unjust to me in suggesting that I am living in such a rarefied atmosphere that I do not know about the rising costs of fuel. I repeat that the Estimates for 1981 will take account of the cost of fuel and of the heating of schools. This will be in accordance with normal procedure.