Vol. 495 No. 7
737 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will abolish the requirement for a local contribution towards the building of a new school (details supplied) which will cater for children with special needs in County Mayo. [21748/98]
738 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether it is fair that a local contribution of £50,000 must be found to assist with the funding of a new special needs school (details supplied) in County Mayo for mentally and physically handicapped children when no such contribution is required for any new Gaelscoil. [21749/98]
739 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will waive the necessity for the local contribution in the funding for the new special needs school (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that this should be fully funded by his Department as a matter of right for these disadvantaged children. [21750/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 737, 738 and 739 together.
Since being appointed Minister I have effected substantial improvement in the capital funding of special schools. It has been the practice for these schools to provide a local contribution of 15 per cent towards the cost of a capital project and last year I reduced this to 5 per cent. These new arrangements have been widely welcomed by the special education sector.
The question of harmonising the capital funding of all national schools is under consideration at present in the context of the work of the Commission on School Accommodation Needs.
