Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 499: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the procedure for applying for funding to equip classrooms; if the equipment grant for developing schools continues to be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7373/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Appropriate classroom equipment is provided as part of extension/refurbishment projects and new school buildings funded by my Department. Under the furniture and equipment element of my Departments School Building and Modernisation Programme funding is available for the provision of additional equipment at developing schools or the replacement of outdated/damaged equipment. A special PE funding package, of €6.5 million, issued late last year to all 3,200 primary schools. Under the package, every school received €2,000 towards the cost of replacing and upgrading PE equipment in their school. This grant was issued, as a once-off measure, to enable schools to replace older equipment such as goalposts, PE mats, benches etc. The modern equipment which can be purchased will help facilitate PE and sporting activities in schools, which everyone recognises is a very important aspect of school life.

This funding package was made as part of this Government's continued commitment to modernise facilities in schools throughout the country. I expect to announce a PE equipment grant for post-primary schools in the coming months.

In addition, since 2000 my Department has provided in excess of €5.5m in grant-aid to all primary schools to facilitate the provision of coaching or mentoring in connection with physical education or to purchase resource materials associated with the provision of physical education.

I increased the level of grant payable under the annual devolved grant scheme for minor works to national schools last November. All primary schools with full recognition receive a basic grant of €5,500 plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil. This grant is intended to address works required to the physical infrastructure of the schools or on items of furniture and equipment for educational use, including IT related equipment. Around €27m was paid out to primary schools throughout the country to enable thousands of small scale works to be completed without the need to interact with my Department.

Primary schools that establish a class for special needs pupils receive a once-off grant of €6,500 per class to purchase equipment, including physical education equipment, that they feel best meets the needs of the pupils attending the class.

I would also point out that schools may use their general capitation funding to support the implementation of curricula including Physical Education. Since 1997 the standard rate of capitation grant at primary level has been increased from €57.14 per pupil to €163.58 from 1st January 2007.

Second-level schools have also benefited from substantial increases in funding for their day-to-day costs. The standard capitation grant of €266 per pupil in 2003 has been increased to €316 per pupil since the 1st January 2007. The support services grant for secondary schools has been increased from €127 per pupil in 2003 to €159 per pupil in 2006 and from 1 January 2007 the grant was increased by a further €30 per student to €189 per pupil. Grants are provided to second level schools to enable the purchase of equipment to facilitate the introduction of new/revised curricula such as Design and Communication Graphics and Leaving Certificate Technology. Grant aid is also being provided to replace old equipment with a view to improving health and safety in wood and technology rooms.