Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his presence and constructive approach to this issue. I know that we have thrown a myriad of demands at him and that they cannot all be met in one budget. With regard to capitation grants, the Minister replied to a parliamentary question I asked last week by stating it was difficult to make precise comparisons between the levels of grants and the actual cost of running schools at primary and secondary level. Therefore, there is an indication that everyone within the system knows that the capitation grant does not meet the cost of running a school.

I mentioned the pupil-teacher ratio. We pushed the issue last year and, with our support, a reduction from 26 to 25 was achieved. The INTO told us earlier today that in the next five or six years there might be up to 50,000 fewer pupils in primary schools. Therefore, the Government might be able to make progress on the the issue of the pupil-teacher ratio without any significant increase in cost.

Boards of management are looking for the capitation grant to be restored, as well as the minor works grant. They are very reasonable in what they say to us in that they want a guaranteed but phased programme. While we all know that it will not happen in one budget, we want the Minister to take some steps along the road on this occasion and give a commitment to follow through.

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