Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

Against the backdrop of current conditions, a 12% increase in the capitation grant in 2008, which translates into 9% for each individual pupil, and given the increasing numbers of children enrolled, is quite generous.

There are increased costs and the Government does not want to remove all incentives to manage scarce resources like energy and water responsibility by blanket subsidisation of all costs incurred.

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