Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the first instance I want to make it very clear that I value the contribution of all within the education sector. We are a sector constituted of many parts and each part makes a hugely important, significant and valued contribution to the system of education as we know it in this country. I want to say that quite unequivocally. I do not for one minute accept that there was a view from the outset to exclude. I must point out that in the very first instance there is a staff salary grant for fee-charging schools in the normal run of things. For example, in the 2018 to 2019 year, in excess of €95 million was paid out in staff grants to fee-charging schools.

Specifically in relation to Covid-19 measures, I must point out that all of the fee-charging schools qualified for the same rate of support as was made available to the free schools in terms of the allocation of PPE and enhanced cleaning. The ratio of €51 per pupil was applied to all within the fee-charging school remit in the same way as it was applied to second-level schools in the free scheme. Equally, the ICT grant was given at a rate of 50% to the fee-charging schools. The Senator is correct about the minor works grant; all schools in the fee-charging scheme were invited to apply for that on the basis of need and where there was a need, a financial need, to meet any of the Covid-19 measures then that need was addressed. Thus, quite a substantial amount was done in relation to Covid-19 measures being made available.