Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the physical education grant will be restored to schools in order that they do not have to depend on commercial companies to pay for sports materials; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5721/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In October 2000, my Department introduced a physical education grant for all primary schools. Since the introduction of the scheme, my Department provided in excess of €5.5 million in grant aid to primary schools under this scheme to enable schools provide coaching or mentoring in connection with physical education or to purchase resource materials associated with the provision of physical education. Materials and equipment purchased by schools in previous years will generally be available to them for subsequent years.

However, schools may use their general capitation funding to support the implementation of curricula including physical education. Since 1997 the standard rate of capitation grant has been increased from £45 or €57.14 per pupil to €145.58 with effect from 1 January 2006, an increase of almost 155% in the period. The question of providing further grants to support areas of the curriculum will be kept under review as part of the normal Estimates process in the coming years.