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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 Oct 1998

Vol. 494 No. 4

Written Answers. - Capitation Grants.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

423 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will agree to a multi-annual agreement with the INTO management and parents to close the gap between primary and post-primary capitation. [18513/98]

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

432 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that there is a significant improvement in the capitation grant for primary schools in the 1998 budget by increasing the current rate of £50 to £75; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18555/98]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 423 and 432 together.

The Deputies will be aware that An Action Programme for the Millennium contains a commitment to give primary education a clear priority in the allocation of resources. I can assure the Deputies that, in the context of the 1999 Estimates, I am currently examining a range of options, including the question of increasing the level of capitation rates, with a view to identifying appropriate ways to fulfil this commitment.
The Government's commitment in this regard was clearly reflected in the 1998 Estimates, which provided for an overall increase of almost 12 per cent in expenditure on primary education. In this context, the 11 per cent increase in the standard rate of capitation grant represented an important step forward in the process of improving funding of the primary sector. It is important to note, however, that the difference in grant level between primary and post-primary levels reflects the fact that maintenance costs for second level schools are much greater on a unit cost basis than those in primary schools. In addition, the second level capitation payment is required to cover a different range of expenditures.
I can assure the Deputies that I will continue to give priority to the issue of further increases in the capitation grant to primary schools. While I am fully aware of the views of the education partners on this issue, there can be no question of a multi-annual agreement with the INTO, management bodies and parents. Any increases in the capitation grant at primary level are a matter for agreement between my colleague, the Minister for Finance, and myself.
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