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Primary Schools: Choice of Educational Books
Provision of Alcoholic Beverages in Guesthouses
Funding of Voluntary Schools

Order No. 

Ref No.     

Date:

29|01|03

Education and Science:

Written Question           

Question:
To ask the Minister for Education and Science the practical steps which have
been or are planned to be implemented to tackle the historical anomaly in the
way voluntary schools are funded.

(given that the current situation has left many such schools in a less than
desirable condition in addition to shortfalls in funding resulting in a
shortage of teaching materials, sports facilities and social areas such as
canteen facilities)

Reply:
Significant improvements have been made in the level of funding to second level
schools. The standard per capita grant has increased from €224.74 that applied in 1997, to €256.49 in September 2001, and was further increased to €266.49 in September 2002. An additional per capita grant of €38.09 is paid to disadvantaged schools bringing the total per capita grant in the case of such schools to over €300.

In addition, under the school services support initiative, second level schools have benefited from further significant increases in the support grant from€ 25.40 per pupil in 2000 to €88.88 from September 2002 and to €99 per pupil from 1 January 2003.

Funding for voluntary secondary schools has been further enhanced by the introduction of a range of equalisation measures that are designed to reduce the historic anomalies referred to, in the funding arrangements for the different school types at second level. Under the terms of recent equalisation measures, the support services grant was increased by €28 per pupil with effect from September 2002. This brings the support services grant in the case of voluntary secondary schools to €116.88 per pupil from September 2002 and to €127 per pupil from 1 January 2003. This increase is in addition to the range of equalisation grants of up to €15,554 per school (€44.44 per pupil) per annum that was approved for secondary schools in December 2001.

For a voluntary secondary school with 500 pupils, this amounts to extra funding
of up to €100,000 per annum, and annual grants of up to €236,761 (€255,811 in
the case of disadvantaged schools) towards general expenses and support
services.

Order No. 

Ref No.     

Date:

29|01|03

Arts, Sports and Tourism:

Oral Question           

Question:
To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to permit the provision of alcohol, other than wine, in guesthouses.

Reply:
I understand that the Commission on Liquor Licensing is currently reviewing the licensing arrangements in respect of residential accommodation that does not come under the definition of an hotel. The Commission's terms of reference make specific mention of this matter.

I expect that any recommendations for legislative changes in this area will be set out in the Commission's final report.

Order No. 

Ref No.     

Date:

29|01|03

Education and Science:

Oral Question               

Question:
To ask the Minister for Education and Science the practical steps which have
been or are planned to be implemented to tackle the historical anomaly in the
way voluntary schools are funded.

(given that the current situation has left many such schools in a less than
desirable condition in addition to shortfalls in funding resulting in a
shortage of teaching materials, sports facilities and social areas such as
canteen facilities)

Reply:
Significant improvements have been made in the level of funding to second level
schools. The standard per capita grant has increased from €224.74 that applied in 1997, to €256.49 in September 2001, and was further increased to €266.49 in September 2002. An additional per capita grant of €38.09 is paid to disadvantaged schools bringing the total per capita grant in the case of such schools to over €300.

In addition, under the school services support initiative, second level schools have benefited from further significant increases in the support grant from€ 25.40 per pupil in 2000 to €88.88 from September 2002 and to €99 per pupil from 1 January 2003.

Funding for voluntary secondary schools has been further enhanced by the introduction of a range of equalisation measures that are designed to reduce the historic anomalies referred to, in the funding arrangements for the different school types at second level. Under the terms of recent equalisation measures, the support services grant was increased by €28 per pupil with effect from September 2002. This brings the support services grant in the case of voluntary secondary schools to €116.88 per pupil from September 2002 and to €127 per pupil from 1 January 2003. This increase is in addition to the range of equalisation grants of up to €15,554 per school (€44.44 per pupil) per annum that was approved for secondary schools in December 2001.

For a voluntary secondary school with 500 pupils, this amounts to extra funding
of up to €100,000 per annum, and annual grants of up to €236,761 (€255,811 in
the case of disadvantaged schools) towards general expenses and support
services.