asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the serious financial circumstances of the Mercy College, Coolock House, Dublin 5, which will have a serious effect on the intake of students for the next academic year, and also force a review of leaving certificate honours subjects presently available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coolock (Dublin) College.
2.
Financial support to secondary schools by way of capitation grants and supplementary grants in lieu of tuition fees are payable on a uniform basis to all schools in receipt of such grants. This supplementary grant in lieu of tuition fees is being increased from £92 per pupil to £100 per pupil with effect from 1 January 1984.
The financial circumstances of individual schools are not assessed in connection with the payment of the relevant grants to each school.
In view of the fact that the school has a very serious financial problem as a result of the reduced teacher/ pupil ratio and that quite a large number of the pupils have to remain back for an additional year because of the cutback, does the Minister not agree that the policy being pursued is absolutely crazy? This school caters for a large number of under-privileged children and special consideration should be given to them.
I assure the Deputy that the very generous increase in grants payable in 1984 was very welcome indeed to the management body who took the unusual step to congratulate the Department by telegram on receipt of the increased grants.
Valuable information.
What does she expect us to do?
As well as £100 per student in grants in lieu of fees, the school also receives a capitation grant of £38 per senior pupil and £24 per junior pupil. I cannot accept what the Deputy has stated about the pupil/teacher ratio affecting the financial situation of the school.
Like many other secondary schools in the city this school is on the verge of bankruptcy. The brothers have had to cut back considerably on the intake of pupils who have been forced to stay back in primary schools. Is the Minister aware that a large number of very important subjects will have to be discontinued in that school this year because of the severe cutbacks? There is no point in talking about increased capitation grants.
No representations have been received by me or my Department from the school. The management have not availed themselves of the Quota Review Body set up to assist schools who have particular difficulty about subject options. I am unaware of the difficulties the Deputy has been speaking of.
Would the Minister agree to meet representatives of the management to discuss the serious financial crisis?
I suggest that the school should make representations to the Quota Review Body set up for that purpose.
Would the Minister agree to meet the management?
I would prefer if the school management would avail themselves of the machinery available.
The Minister said she received a telegram from Br. Declan Duffy. Did she also receive a telegram from the union of students on the same day which was not congratulatory?
I did not.
It was put in the waste paper basket.