Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 497: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount his Department estimates will be saved by the abolition of the transition year grant in the 2009-10 school year; the position regarding the activities which schools will be able to do with even less funds available, particularly in disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36988/08]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 498: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount his Department estimates will be saved by the abolition of the leaving certificate applied grant in the 2009-10 school year; if the leaving certificate applied as an alternative to the leaving certificate examination no longer has a future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36989/08]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 499: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount his Department estimates will be saved by the abolition of the physics and chemistry grant in the 2009-10 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36990/08]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 500: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount his Department estimates will be saved by the abolition of the special subjects grant in the 2009-10 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36991/08]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 501: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount his Department estimates will be saved by the abolition of the home economics ingredients grant in the 2009-10 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36992/08]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 502: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount his Department estimates will be saved by the abolition of the choirs and orchestras grant in the 2009-10 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36993/08]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 503: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount his Department estimates will be saved by the abolition of the junior certificate schools programme grant in the 2009-10 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36994/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 497 to 503, inclusive, together.

In framing the budget, a range of very difficult policy choices had to be faced by the Government across all areas of public expenditure, including in the field of education. While education remains a priority for the Government, it has been necessary to curtail expenditure in some areas. While certain grants are to be abolished, I would like to emphasise that the capitation grant for post-primary schools has been increased by 4.3%, representing an increase of €14 per pupil, to bring it to €345 per pupil from January 2009. Voluntary secondary schools will benefit also from an increase in the school services support grant by €8 per pupil from January 2009. This will mean, for example, that a secondary school with an enrolment of 500 pupils will receive an additional €11,000 in funding in 2009. The abolition of the Transition Year grant is expected to save €2.55 million. With regard to transition year activities in disadvantaged areas, schools in the DEIS programme are in receipt of additional grant aid, which they will continue to receive.

It is estimated that savings in the order of €1.2 million will be made by the abolition of the Leaving Certificate Applied grant. The Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA), taken by approximately 6% of students, is subject to review and appropriate revisions are made to ensure that needs of all students in the intended target group are met in the best possible way. This will continue to be the case, and I am confident that the Leaving Certificate Applied will continue to be a viable option for students whose needs are not catered for by the other Leaving Certificate options. The abolition of the physics and chemistry grant is likely to save €1.2 million, while the abolition of the equipment grants for LCA and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme is estimated to save €78,000. Savings from the abolition of the Home Economics grant are projected to be €51,000. The abolition of the Choirs and Orchestras grant is expected to save in the order of €26,000. It is expected that €192,000 will be saved in the abolition of the Junior Certificate Schools Programme grant.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 504: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount his Department estimates will be saved by the abolition of the book grant for schools not in the DEIS scheme in the 2009-10 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36995/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Notwithstanding the increase of €302 million in the Education budget for 2009, which is a real achievement in the current economic climate, a number of tough and difficult decisions had to be taken. These decisions included reductions on the aid for school books scheme which in the case of schools outside of the DEIS scheme will involve savings of approximately €7.5 million on current levels. Approximately €7 million was made available in 2008 to DEIS schools for the school book grant scheme and this fund of €7 million will be made available for distribution to schools in the DEIS programme in 2009.