asked the Minister for Education when, and by how much he proposes to increase the capitation grant for primary school pupils.

The rate of capitation grant for each primary school pupil has been raised from £6 to £8 for the current school year and the necessary provision will be made in the 1978 Estimates.

Would the Minister agree that the necessary updating of the primary school capitation grant would involve it being raised to at least £9.60 for the current year?

The 1978 Estimates will be dealing with this situation and we will see what the position is when we are considering the Estimates.

Is the import of the Minister's reply that he has not yet managed to get an authorisation from the Minister or the Department of Finance for any increase, as was specified in the Fianna Fáil election manifesto?

There is no such import.

Is the Minister aware that in a number of primary schools collections have to be taken for heating and maintaining the school? Can I take it that the increase in capitation grants will result in the elimination of these local collections?

It was not the Minister who increased the grants. I did.

The Deputy will know, or Deputy P. Barry will tell him, that the per capita grant payable to primary schools is dependent upon local contributions.