asked the Minister for Education the plans he has to increase the maintenance grants for primary schools.

The rates of the various grants provided for primary schools are reviewed each year in connection with the preparation of the Estimates for my Department. The provision in the current year's Estimates will enable payment of the grant towards the operating costs of national schools to be made on the basis of the rates which applied in 1976. The introduction of the new scheme of capitation grants in 1975 involved a trebling of the amount of State aid formerly available for this purpose and, accordingly, it is considered that the current rates of grant are reasonably adequate in the context of the prevailing financial circumstances.