Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 501: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department considers it necessary for some primary schools to take out additional pupil personal accident insurance in addition to the usual insurance which cover accidental injury to pupils (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31540/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for arranging insurance cover, including the specific requirements of insurance cover for school property and against public liability is a matter for the managerial authorities of primary schools and would fall to be met from the capitation funding which schools receive from my Department.

My Department provides funding to primary schools by way of per capita grants, which affords schools considerable flexibility in the use of these resources to cater for the needs of their pupils. This is, in my view, in general a preferable approach to putting in place grants for specific cost items such as insurance.

There have been significant improvements in the level of funding provided to primary and post-primary schools. Since 1997 the standard rate of capitation grant at primary level has been increased from €57.14 per pupil to €145.58 with effect from 1st January, 2006. This represents an increase of almost 155% in the standard rate of capitation grant at primary level since 1997.

I am committed to further improving the funding position of primary schools in the light of available resources. The significant increases in the funding of primary schools in recent years is a clear demonstration of this government's commitment to prioritise available resources to address the needs of schools.