Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 456: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether primary school capitation grants are adequate to meet ever increasing costs of cleaning, maintenance and insurance; if she envisages index-linking of capitation payments to the CPI in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17471/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Primary schools' running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of national schools. The capitation grant has been increased substantially in recent years. Since 1997 the standard rate of capitation grant has been increased from €57.14 per pupil to €133.58 with effect from 1st January, 2005 and has been further increased by €12 per pupil with effect from 1st January, 2006 bringing the standard rate to €145.58. This represents an increase of almost 155% in the standard rate of capitation grant since 1997.

There are no proposals to index-link capitation grants to the CPI. However, I am pleased to inform the Deputy, that the increases in the level of capitation grant since 1997 have far exceeded increases in the CPI in the period.

The significant increase in the funding of schools in the primary sector over recent years is a clear demonstration of my commitment to prioritise available resources to address the needs of primary schools.