Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

317. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when ICT grants will be paid to primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31163/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding was to support schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to embed the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.

The new Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support schools over the period committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.

It is hoped to issue the next tranche of funding in the 2023-2024 school year. As with all such funding, the issuing of the grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department.

It is anticipated that the funding committed to under the NDP will be available to support the implementation of the Digital Strategy to Schools in future years.

As with funding under the previous strategy, the funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 issues directly to schools as they are best placed to identify the requirements of their own student cohort and to meet those requirements in the most appropriate way in accordance with their digital learning plan.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

318. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the average total of voluntary contributions received annually by schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31166/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government believes that a rise in the cost of living should never be a barrier to education. In order to ensure this remains the case and as part of the cost of living measures announced in Budget 23, the government provided €90m for once off additional capitation funding.

All recognised Primary and Post-Primary schools in the Free Education scheme benefited from this additional capitation funding in December 2022 which represents an increase of circa 40% of current standard and enhanced capitation rates.

Section 64 of the Education (Admissions to schools) Act 2018, which was commenced in 2018 explicitly prohibits the charging of admission and enrolment fees for admission to or for continued enrolment in a school, with some exceptions such as boarding or fee charging schools.

The Government has introduced a new scheme to provide free schoolbooks to children and young people enrolled in recognised primary schools, including special schools, which will greatly reduce the burden on these families and reflects the importance that the Government places on education.

This scheme will ensure that parents and guardians of children in primary schools will not be asked to buy or rent any school books, workbooks or copy books as of autumn 2023.

Voluntary contributions can be requested by schools, however it must be made absolutely clear to parents that there is no requirement to pay, and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own choice, and there is no compulsion to pay. In the context of the current cost of living crisis and the additional funding being made available to schools, I have previously indicated that schools should not seek additional voluntary contributions from parents.

Ultimately it is a matter for each individual school to determine if it should seek a Voluntary Contribution, considering its individual circumstances. The latest available data is for the school year 2020/21, when approximately €28 million was reported as received by primary and post primary schools in the form of voluntary contributions.