Vol. 494 No. 3
258 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount paid by his Department either directly or indirectly in the form of capitation grants or otherwise per student in the voluntary secondary schools and the vocational schools sector respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18152/98]
The way in which funding is provided to voluntary secondary schools and schools managed by vocational education committees reflects the different management and ownership arrangements for these schools. Consequently, direct comparison between the two sectors is difficult. The financial allocations for vocational schools and community colleges are made to the vocational education committees as part of a block grant which also covers the VEC overheads and other activities apart from the second level programme.
Voluntary secondary schools are funded on a per capita basis. The per capita rate currently is £177. An additional capitation grant of £30 per pupil is paid to schools which have been designated as disadvantaged. Secondary schools with enrolments in excess of 200 pupils are also eligible for assistance towards the provision of caretaking and secretarial services subject to a maximum of £8,750 and £10,500, respectively.
The matter of equity of funding between the various sectors at second level is currently being examined by a steering group on funding. Under its terms of reference, the group will draw up a recommended funding framework designed to ensure equal treatment for different schools within the second level sector while taking account of the needs of these different schools.
