asked the Minister for Education the total expenditure of her Department for 1985; the percentage of total Government spending this represents; and how our education budget compares to other EC countries as a percentage of Government spending relative to their population of young people.
Written Answers. - Education Expenditure.
135.
Total expenditure figures of the Department of Education for 1985 will not be available until after the end of the year. With regard to a comparison between this country's education budget and that of other EC countries, the position is that the particular statistical information sought by the Deputy is not available. However, the following table shows spending on education and training in EC countries as a percentage of gross domestic product for 1981, the latest date for which figures have beren published:
Federal Republic of Germany, 5.1 per cent; France, 5 per cent; Italy, 5.8 per cent; Netherlands, 6.8 per cent; Belgium, 5.9 per cent; Luxembourg, 6.6 per cent; United Kingdom, 5.8 per cent; Ireland, 7.3 per cent; Denmark, 7.4 per cent; EC average (9 states), 5.4 per cent.
(The corresponding figure for Greece has not been published). (Source: Eurostat, May, 1985).