John O'Donoghue
Ceist:201 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education her policy in relation to schools which were formally under the management of the Office of Public Works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7758/97]
Written Answers - School Maintenance.
The majority of national schools are vested in trustees and maintenance of the school buildings is the responsibility of the board of management. These schools receive an annual capitation grant, which is currently £45 per pupil.
There are a number of schools which are vested in the Minister for Education and whose maintenance is the responsibility of the Office of Public Works. Since these schools are maintained at the expense of the State, they receive a reduced capitation grant of £18 per pupil.
Many schools formerly vested in the Minister for Education have closed, while in other cases the school authorities have agreed to undertake responsibility for the maintenance of the schools. At present, ten schools remain vested in the Minister. It would be my intention that the authorities of these remaining ten schools would undertake responsibility for maintenance of their schools, which would enable them to avail of the normal rate of capitation grant.