Vol. 413 No. 9
9 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education if any unit cost study has been undertaken for primary schools; if he will give details in relation to costs involved for parents who have children attending primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
278 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Education when he expects to receive and publish the unit cost study which has examined spending per student at the various levels of education.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 278 together.
My Department have undertaken unit cost studies of recurrent costs in primary and post-primary schools. The studies are being conducted in conjunction with consultants and analysis of the data concerning expenditures by schools at each level is still ongoing. Information arising from the study will be made available in due course.
Is the Minister aware that under "Education" at paragraph 69 (h) of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress there is a clear commitment to the production of this unit cost study, that was in January of this year and 11 months down the road a relatively simple exercise, which has already been done by the National Parents' Council, has not been produced? Will the Minister give a definite explicit date by which this will be produced?
I do not know when it will be completed but I am urging that it be completed as soon as possible because it will obviously have an effect. We will go back to talk to the Department of Finance about this matter to see where cost-effectiveness can be implemented to benefit everyone, including pupils.
The Minister will be aware from the National Parents' Council survey that it has been proved that an increasing amount of essential expenditure in schools is now being underpinned by bingo, barbeques, raffles and so on and that parents dread sending their children back to school in September because it means they have to dig deeper into their pockets.
I do not agree that people do not enjoy getting involved in their local schools. When resources are scarce parents make a tremendous effort. Apart from that, schools have expanded their programmes. There are many bus tours and continental tours run by schools nowadays. The efforts made by parents give them a sense of involvement with the local school and, in any event, most of these people are already involved in parish activities.
