asked the Minister for Education if his attention has been drawn to a statement by the head of a secondary college published in Dublin daily papers of 20th January, 1954, to the effect that the Government remains indifferent to a request for an increase in the secondary schools' capitation grants and that the grants have not changed for 30 years and that no assistance whatever is given for building and not a penny for maintenance of premises; and whether, in view of the importance of secondary education, he will state if any new proposals will be made at an early date to improve the position and to ease the burden on those responsible for maintaining secondary education colleges.

I have seen the statement mentioned and the question of increasing the capitation grants to secondary schools is under consideration.