Vol. 484 No. 2
58 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will increase the £5 per pupil capitation grant for primary schools provided for in the 1998 Estimates for Public Services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21693/97]
The 1998 Estimate for subhead C — capitation grant towards operating costs of national schools — is £32,630,000. This represents an increase of 8 per cent over the projected outturn for this subhead in 1997, and a 9.6 per cent increase over the £29,773,000 which was allocated to this subhead in the 1997 Estimates. I consider that these figures represent a substantial increase in the level of funding being provided under this subhead, especially when set against a background of declining enrolments.
