Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Nolan raised a question about the caretakers. This is due to the phasing. The pay increase of 2.5% in the hourly rate of grant came in on 1 January 2016. In addition, the introduction of a minimum hourly rate of €10.25 was introduced. The ancillary service grant was increased in 2016, from €147 to €153, to enable primary schools to implement the first phase of the arbitrator's recommendation and also to provide for a pay increase under the FEMPI Act for grant-funded school cleaners. Primary schools that had insufficient funds to pay the minimum hourly rate of €10.25 could apply to the Department for top-up funding and this application process resulted in €107,000 being allocated to 133 primary schools. Further increases in the ancillary service grant will be made to enable schools to implement the future phases of the arbitration recommendation.

This came from an arbitrator's recommendation. Obviously, the schools have to determine how they deploy across their requirements. This will result in a 10% increase over the phasing. The full increase is 10% between 2016 and 2019.

Deputy Catherine Martin raised whether we need to step up capital funding. We have a step-up in capital funding for the coming year. It is a €40 million increase. That is recognising both the cost pressures and the pressures of the bulge moving from primary to post-primary. The cost of a primary school place is considerably lower than a secondary school place so that as that bulge moves on, it is considerably more expensive.