Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she intends to increase the ancillary services grant, which has not been increased for the past two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23546/04]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Funding to primary schools for secretarial and caretaking services has increased from the €50.79 per pupil that applied in the 2000-01 school year, to €102 per pupil at present. This represents a doubling of the grant over the period.

In relation to secondary schools, the support grant that was introduced under the school services support fund was increased from 1 January last and now stands at €131 per pupil. While provision for support services, including secretarial and caretaking, is a particular focus of this fund, schools have discretion, in line with that available in relation to per capita grants, as to how this additional funding is best utilised in the interests of their pupils. This funding support is provided in addition to the provision made to schools for secretaries and caretakers under separate schemes.

The question of any further increases in the level of ancillary services grants will be considered as part of the normal Estimates process.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 343: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she intends to increase the capitation grant in line with inflation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23547/04]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am committed to improving the funding position of primary and secondary schools in the light of available resources.

Significant improvements in the levels of direct funding of schools have been made in recent years. The standard rate of capitation grant for primary schools has been increased from €57 in 1997 to €121.58 per pupil from 1 January last, an increase of almost 113%. In the case of secondary schools, the standard per capita grant now amounts to €274 from 1 January last as against the rate of €224.74 that applied in 1997. In the case of disadvantaged schools this increase has brought the total per capita grant to €312. In addition, the support grant that was introduced under the school services support initiative, was also increased from 1 January last and now stands at €131 per pupil. This increase is in addition to the range of equalisation grants of up to €15,554 per school per annum that was approved in December 2001.

The question of further increases in the level of capitation grants payable to primary and secondary schools will be considered as part of the normal Estimates process.