331 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Education the way in which the allocation under Subhead F2 of Vote 27 was spent in 1995; and the purpose for the allocation under Subhead F2 of Vote 27 in the 1996 Estimates. [19358/96]

The allocation under subhead F2 of Vote 27 was used to provide library grants to the chief librarians of the local authorities. The amount of grant is directly related to the number of national school pupils enrolled in the local authority area. The grant rate for 1995 was £1 per pupil.

Local authority librarians select, purchase and deliver books to primary schools. The primary schools in their turn provide a lending and reference service to pupils. The Department's grants supplement the schemes already in operation in each local authority area.

It is intended to apply the allocation for 1996 in a similar manner.