Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join in the words of sympathy extended to the nephews and nieces of the former Deputy, Seymour Crawford, who, sadly, has passed away. He was a humble man who devoted his considerable talents and ability to the services of others.

I wish to raise an education issue with the Leader, but before I do so, I congratulate my fellow Ulsterman, Deputy McHugh, on his elevation to Minister for Education and Skills. I also thank his predecessor, Deputy Bruton, for the extraordinary work that he did in that Department.

I want to talk about a great inequality and wrong in the education system that has gone under the radar. The capitation fee for secondary schools is double that for primary schools. The fee was reduced by 30% in the recession. In the previous budget it was restored by 5% but there is still a deficit of 25% due to the recession. The standard capitation grant in a primary school is about 92 cent a day or €172 per year. The grant is double that amount in post-primary education, at €296. Indeed, the Catholic Primary School Management Association, CPSMA, has said that €46 million a year comes from voluntary contributions.

The important thing about primary education is that we have a new hands-on curriculum and pupils learn by doing. The curriculum involves all facets of education, including music and sport, the same as secondary education. The primary school curriculum also involves IT. The needs of a primary school student, in terms of education, equipment and extracurricular activities, will be similar to the needs of a secondary school student if there is to be active learning as per the curriculum. Primary education acts as a foundation stone and it is where a person really develops. The real way to create equality is to invest in the lower tiers of education.

It is a great wrong that the children who attend primary schools get half the capitation grant and thus are supported half as well as children who attend secondary schools. That is wrong, inequitable and unfair, it does not create equality, and it is wrong for development. We are now in an economic position to solve the problem. I call on the Leader to arrange a debate on this serious issue. People may not notice but it is wrong that a child attending primary school is discriminated against, and it is active discrimination.