asked the Minister for Education the average State grant and local contribution in respect of (a) new buildings at primary school level and (b) improvements to existing buildings at primary level; and if it is the case that higher rates of grants relative to local contributions are offered usually in the case of new buildings or major works, than in the case of minor improvements; and, if so, the reason.
Written Answers. - State Grants for School Buildings.
225.
The average State grant and local contribution in respect of new national school buildings and improvements vary from year to year.
It would be true to say that higher rates of grant relative to local contributions are offered in the case of major building projects than in the case of minor improvements, since finding large local contributions usually represents a considerable burden on school authorities.
The amount of the grant laid down for the building, improvement and furnishing of a national school is two-thirds of the cost. This rate would be applied to minor improvements. In exceptional circumstances the Minister has discretion to offer larger grants than the norm if satisfied that one-third of the cost of the works cannot be contributed locally.
Local contributions for major projects are negotiated on the Minister's behalf by departmental officers who would decide from experience the appropriate grant rate to offer to individual schools. If necessary in the course of negotiations the advice of the patron would be availed of to ensure general equality of treatment.
I am not in a position to give the Deputy the actual averages in recent years for State grants and local contributions, since the compilation of such information would require the expenditure of an inordinate amount of official time.