Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 4

Written Answers. - Capitation Grants.

John Perry

Ceist:

43 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science the grant payments made to national schools in County Galway under the various support schemes; his views on whether adequate facilities and space is available in schools for the use of facilities; when he will rectify the serious problems in many schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9183/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

Expenditure in 2001 in respect of capital works in primary schools in County Galway grant-aided by the primary buildings unit of my Department was €3.6 million. In addition, all recognised schools received €3,809 per school plus €12.70 per pupil under the devolved grant scheme for primary school buildings.

Capitation grants at the rate of €101.58 per pupil are also being paid to all schools in County Galway in the current school year. Children with special educational needs attending national schools in County Galway are currently supported by 88 full-time and 73 part-time resource teachers. Traveller children attending national schools in the county are supported by 21 special dedicated classes and a further 56 resource teacher posts. In the past 2 years, my Department has allocated some €200,000 to schools in the area for the purchase of special equipment to assist children with disabilities. All resource teacher posts allocated to national schools attract an initial start-up grant of €635 and a further annual grant of €317. Each special class also attracts a set-up grant of €635. A total of €1.05 million was paid to 230 schools in Galway in 2001 in respect of information and communications technology grants.

The level and condition of facilities and accommodation will vary considerably from school to school. Because of past under-funding in the capital area, many primary schools do not have an appropriate level of facilities. However, it is the intention of this Government to improve the accommodation situation in all schools, including schools in Galway, through a planned and systematically applied programme of capital investment. In pursuance of this objective, the allocation for primary building in 2002 has been increased to €153.6 million, which is an historically high level of investment.

The rate of progress to construction of individual projects depends on factors such as the complexity and size of the project, the time required to undertake architectural planning, the volume of other projects being dealt with by the design team and my Department's building unit, the period of time required for the granting of planning permission and obtaining a fire certificate, the availability of funding, the outcome of the tender competition and the procurement, where relevant, of bonds, insurance and tax clearance by prospective contractors. All buildings projects currently in architectural planning will proceed to tender and construction as speedily as possible as part of the Government's expanded school building programme.