Vol. 526 No. 3
90 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the anomalies and unequal situation whereby voluntary secondary schools are under-funded causing great stress to school principals and parents councils, and time spent fundraising to meet pressing financial commitments. [26248/00]
93 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the status of the report of the steering group on post primary funding; and his intentions in respect of its implementation. [26541/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 93 together.
As these are two oral questions, not more than 12 minutes will be allocated to them.
I refer the Deputies to my earlier reply to the priority question. As I mentioned, I regard the Blackstock report as a most valuable document in both its analysis and clarity of approach. I reiterate that it is my intention that this report should continue to inform policy on school funding.
I know it is the Minister's intention that the report should inform public policy but I am not sure from what part of the floppy disk that intention emanated. Does he intend, during his term in office, to bring about equality of funding for secondary schools on foot of the recommendations in the report to which he referred? Will public policy be informed by that report for the next 18 months? What arrangements does the Minister intend to make to obtain his portion of the £2 billion that will be splashed out on 6 December to ease these inequalities?
The Deputy will be aware that our allocation of funding for next year has already been set out in the Estimates, which will be discussed at some length at a later date. I will use the funds at my disposal to improve the situation to which the Deputy refers, but I am not in a position to provide a timetable for achieving the objectives set out in the Blackstock report. I have already begun the task of so doing. The report was only published in April and I have already gone into action in respect of its implementation. I will continue with my current programme of work in that regard.
I am delighted the Minister has gone into action.
Does the Deputy have a question for the Minister?
Yes. Has the Minister taken on board the set of priorities identified in the report or brought forward by the joint managerial body? If so, while he cannot provide a timetable for the full implementation of the report, will he inform the House with regard to the objectives he hopes to implement, as a matter of priority, in the next 12 months? Do these relate to the training of school principals, the provision of resources to implement the Education (Welfare) Act or the increase of capitation grants with greater responsibility for these being devolved to schools? What are his priorities for the next 12 months?
The report asked that we proceed with the work being carried out on the database. Efforts are already under way in that regard. The report also referred to the need for a formula funding approach and separate arrangements for funding in relation to educational disadvantage. I will shortly be able to provide figures in respect of educational disadvantage. We carried out a study on that matter and, following its completion, we found there was a need for a more thorough study to ensure the information obtained was as accurate as possible. The second study is ongoing.
The report also advised that funding should be divided in a particular way and we will examine its recommendations in that regard. The main recommendation under the heading of the non-pay formula and supplementary funding was that 78% of total non-pay funding should be allocated on the basis of enrolments, with account being taken of the insurance arrangements for the three sectors.
The Minister's minute is concluded.
The Deputy will find that we are working on a number of the recommendations that were made. A recommendation was made in respect of caretakers and secretaries and I have already provided a number of grants in that regard.
I wish to ask the Minister a question. The Minister should note that the time for this question is almost exhausted. I seek the protection of the Chair and ask that the Leas-Cheann Comhairle ensure that the rules of the House are observed.
I pointed out earlier that not more than 12 minutes would be allocated to these two oral questions, which are being taken together.
There is an order in which Members are supposed to be called and there is also a time limit which applies. However, I do not wish to see any further time wasted.
The time limit is being adhered to.
Does the Minister accept the principle of access to free second level education for all children? If the answer is "yes", does it follow that the State must fully fund the education system and eliminate the need for voluntary contributions?
In light of the Minister's stated commitment to eliminating educational disadvantage and in the context of the gross under-funding of the education system and the inability of voluntary secondary schools in disadvantaged areas to raise funds, why is the Minister refusing to accept the findings of the Blackstock report? It is somewhat of an insult to those education partners who participated in drawing up this report—
The Deputy's minute is concluded.
—that the Minister has stated that it will merely continue to inform policy. What is the precise status of the report and does the Minister have any intention of implementing it?
It is difficult to find words the Deputy wishes to hear. When I stated that it will continue to inform our policy—
Does the Minister accept the report's findings?
The Deputy should allow the Minister to continue without interruption.
The report is an important document and it will continue to inform—
That is a meaningless statement.
A moment ago the Deputy asked that Standing Orders should be implemented rigidly. I ask her to refrain from interrupting the Minister when he is on his feet.
He should not be interrupted when he is in action.
I have already increased the grants to schools—
By a miserly amount.
—and established a special support scheme for voluntary schools. That is in line with what was requested in the Blackstock report. I have indicated that in the allocation of funds and resources I will place a strong emphasis on disadvantage.
Does the Minister intend to fully fund the voluntary sector?
The Deputy stated people should no longer be obliged to make voluntary contributions. I do not believe my Department introduced such contributions; for particular reasons our schools have chosen to request a small voluntary contribution from parents.
That is the only way they can afford to pay their bills.
I will proceed to the next question if Deputy Shortall does not allow the Minister to conclude his reply.
As stated earlier, no one has increased per capita grants by as much as we have in the past two years. I also indicated that those grants will be increased by a further £10 per head next year. We are also taking steps to deal with the issue of disadvantage. Each of these matters is worthy of a separate question. The Deputy asked if we would fully fund all the voluntary schools overnight. The Blackstock report says this should not be done in the first instance, but rather should be done in a planned and careful way so that the outcome is fair and transparent.
Does the Minister accept the recommendations?
