Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Chathaoirleach as ucht a cheapacháin sealadaigh úr inniu. Gabhaim buíochas leis fá choinne an chuiridh go dtí an choiste. Táim thar a bheith sásta a bheith anseo os comhair an choiste inniu chun labhairt faoi Mhéastacháin Athbhreithnithe mo Roinne do 2019. Mar is eol do bhaill an choiste, tá obair tábhachtach á déanamh ag mo Roinn san earnáil oideachais agus scileanna. Mar sin, tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go mbeidh an Rialtas ag cur airgid ar fáil don earnáil sa bhliain atá romhainn.

The gross voted allocation for the Department of Education and Skills in 2019 is €10.3 billion. It breaks down to approximately €9.3 billion in current expenditure and €941 million in capital expenditure.

The non-voted national training fund has an allocation of €486 million, resulting in a total gross allocation for the Department of Education and Skills of nearly €10.8 billion. This represents a substantial increase of nearly €680 million, which is more than 6.7% above my Department's allocation for 2018. The Department's Vote comprises three programmes: early years, primary, and post-primary; skills development; and higher education. In previous years there was a separate capital services programme, but capital subheads have now been incorporated into the other three programmes.

The additional allocation in 2019 will deliver a range of measures in the education and training system. It will support an additional 1,300 posts in schools including approximately 950 special needs assistant, SNA, posts and approximately 370 net additional teacher posts, catering for demographics and additional special classes. Schools will receive a 5% increase in capitation with an increase of €10 million in school funding over the 2019-20 school year. This is the first increase in the standard rate of capitation since the period of reduction in capitation rates that took place from 2011 to 2015. We will be investing in improving outcomes for children with additional care needs, with €4.75 million allocated to commence the implementation of the comprehensive SNA review. School leadership will be supported with additional release days for teaching principals and the allocation of administrative deputy principal posts in special schools. The Department's capital budget will be at its highest ever level, at €941 million, in 2019. This is an increase of more than 26% on last year. More than €670 million will be invested in schools, including investment in ICT, and more than €150 million will be invested in the tertiary education and training system. The Department's allocation includes a package of nearly €99 million in measures in the tertiary education system. This includes nearly €70 million in funding arising from an increase in the national training fund levy.