Seán Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 477: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in Dublin 10 can obtain a special grant of €10,000 for a much needed voice and data system. [41300/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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An official from my Department has made contact with the school referred to by the Deputy. Confirmation was received that the school has an intercom system linking the principal with the various classrooms in the building. This is standard provision in all new school buildings.

Seán Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 478: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in Dublin 10 can obtain a part-time secretary as there are significant administrative demands due to the newness and complexity of this innovative project. [41301/06]

Seán Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 480: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in Dublin 10 can retrospectively draw down curriculum grants for the past seven years since 1999 to buy resources necessary to implement the new curriculum. [41303/06]

Seán Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 481: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in Dublin 10 can obtain increased [i]ex gratia[/i] ancillary grant and capitation funds as they currently together do not pay for the insurance premium on such a large building in such an area. [41304/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 478, 480 and 481 together.

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.

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.

The primary school 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 €163.58 with effect from 1st January, 2007.

This represents an increase of over 186% in the standard rate of capitation grant since 1997.

My Department also provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978/79 scheme for the employment of full-time secretaries and caretakers in primary schools, under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. This scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and no new posts are being created. This scheme has been superseded by a more extensive grant scheme now referred to as the Ancillary Services grant.

The Ancillary Services grant scheme does not provide for the linking of the grants to any particular pay scale and is flexible by nature, giving Boards of Management discretion as to the manner in which secretarial and caretaking services are provided.

The standard rate of grant per pupil under the scheme was increased from €102 in 2002 to €139 in 2006. From 1st January next this will be increased by a further €6.50 per pupil bringing the overall ancillary grant per pupil at primary level to €145.50.

In the case of both the capitation grant and the ancillary services grant, a minimum grant equivalent to that for 60 pupils is paid to schools with enrolments of less than 60. This level of grant is payable in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy.

A start-up grant of €6,348.69 was paid to the school in August. In addition, an advance payment of portion of the ancillary services grant has been paid to the school. The balance of that grant and the full capitation grant will be paid in 2007.

There is no provision for the retrospective payment of once-off grants of the type referred to by the Deputy to new schools.

Seán Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 479: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in Dublin 10 can retrospectively draw down the information technology grants afforded to primary schools, that is IT 2000, Blueprint for the future of ICT in Education and the Networking Grant. [41302/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I have asked my officials to examine the position of this school and I will advise the Deputy as to the outcome of the examination once complete.