The Dail debated a Labour Party Private Members Motion calling for a doubling of the capitation grant for primary schools during the week. Labour were calling for a doubling of the grant from the next school year.

The capitation grant is paid by the Department of Education to primary and secondary schools. The grant is paid on an amount per pupil with a minimum grant being paid to schools with 60 pupils or less.

Secondary schools get more per pupil than primary schools yet we still have to pay the same price for heating, cleaning, resources etc.

Mary Hanafin promised a doubling of the primary school capitation grant prior to the 2007 election but only increased the grant this year by €15.

Money is tight by schools and the larger schools are suffering more than the smaller ones. Under funding means the pupils in the classrooms lose out …. less money means less all round. With oil prices going up the cost of heating our schools go up meaning less in the kitty for education.

Finian McGrath, an Independent TD, a Fianna Fail bedfellow and a former primary school principal voted with the government against the motion.

The government were bound to defeat the motion but it’s soul destroying to think that a former principal voted against it.

Finian McGrath …. how many pieces of silver did you get?

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