The booming economy in Ireland affords us a unique opportunity to provide adequate funding for primary education. The capitation grant of £50, payable to primary schools, is derisory. It is £127 less than the capitation grant for post-primary schools, which is considered inadequate. Primary education has been the poor relation since the foundation of the State. This is exemplified in Bryan McMahon's book, The Master, in which he describes the teaching conditions which he experienced in the early years of the State. Many years of underfunding has led to the highest pupil-teacher ratio in Europe, a chronically under-funded remedial teaching system and third world facilities in some schools.
The INTO survey carried out in 1997 revealed some startling statistics. There are still about 35 schools without outside toilets; 130 schools did not have a telephone; 17 per cent had classes in prefabs, many of which were dilapidated; over 30 per cent could not afford a daily cleaning service; almost half did not have a general purpose room for physical education, concerts, parent meetings and so on; 59 per cent did not have a principal's office and 76 per cent did not have hot water for the children's wash hand basins.
The latest OECD figures show Ireland spends less per primary student than any other country in western Europe, North America or Australia. Our primary pupil-teacher ratio is the worst among 12 comparable European countries. It seems incredible that all this is happening at a time of such unprecedented economic growth. Because of the inadequate capitation grant of £50, parents have to fund raise to ensure, in many cases, the basic needs of heating, light and cleaning are provided. It is not uncommon for teachers to pay for essential materials to ensure their class can take part in art, music or other activities.
The 1997 INTO survey showed parents and school communities are subsidising education to the tune of over £10 million each year. The Department of Education and Science contributes approximately £22 million towards the running costs of primary schools. The survey also showed that almost half of all schools cannot pay for the basics out of the £50 per pupil provided by the Department. Over 80 per cent of schools fund-raise and 62 per cent of these use the money to supplement their running costs; 77 per cent need to fund-raise to provide teaching materials for the school and 45 per cent use the money raised locally to provide sports equipment.
In many instances teachers have become semi-professional fund-raisers. Parents and teachers in less well off areas and small rural communities are finding it increasingly difficult to fund-raise given the decline in the rural economy and urban unemployment. This results in unfair treatment of children in those schools. They are placed at a disadvantage from the beginning and find it difficult to catch up when they enter the post primary system. Apart from the normal costs, primary schools have to pay refuse charges, TV licences, cable link fees, computer maintenance and software, photocopying costs and so on.
I recently visited what would be regarded as one of the top primary schools in Kerry for a meeting with the board of management and the principal teacher. They pointed out it was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain services in the school, that they are weary of fund-raising and that the parents are becoming increasingly disillusioned with fund-raising activities. They need financial help which can only be provided by at least a 100 per cent increase in the capitation grant in 1999 and a gradual increase in the grant until it is on a par with the post-primary capitation grant.
I appeal to the Minister of State to remind his Minister of the commitment he made in Opposition that primary education would be a priority. He now has the opportunity to make improvements and he must do so in a substantial fashion.