asked the Minister for Education the number of national schools in respect of which a grant is paid towards cleaning, and the amount of such grant; if he is aware that when grants are paid in rural areas the amount is totally inadequate, and of the undesirability of requiring teachers and pupils to clean schools and toilets; and if he will (a) arrange for the employment of a cleaner, or (b) increase the cleaning grants so as to permit the manager and teacher to employ a cleaner.

All national schools are eligible for receipt of the annual grant in aid of the cleaning of school premises payable by my Department.

The amount of the grant is related to the size of the school; it is not intended to cover the total expenditure involved but to supplement the amounts provided from local sources. A tabular statement showing the maximum grants payable was circulated in the official report of the 19th July, 1961.

I am satisfied that the present arrangement is satisfactory. The answer to the other parts of the Deputy's question is therefore in the negative.

Does the Minister think it right that teachers, in the presence of some of their pupils, should have to take part in the cleaning of schools? Will the Minister not agree that it has an adverse effect on discipline in the schools where such occurs, and it occurs in many cases?

The ownership of a school carries with it a certain responsibility for the maintenance of the school and the State subscribes grants towards that maintenance. The answer to the Deputy's question is that the question should be addressed to someone else.

Does the Minister think the present grants are sufficient?

I think the grants are sufficient, not as total grants but as supplementary to local contributions since the ownership of the school is in the hands of the manager and the trustees.

Have there been representations made to the Minister's Department on this subject by teachers and parents?

That is a separate question. Ownership of the schools is vested in the trustee and manager. Ownership involves certain responsibilities. If they were completely State owned the State would meet the cost of repairs and cleaning.