Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the committee for giving me the opportunity to come before it to discuss the Revised Estimate for my Department. The Estimate sets out the approved allocations for the Department. This includes funding for all of the services it normally provides. Additional allocations to fund measures relating to Covid-19 and the education sector’s response to the Ukraine crisis are also included. A significant capital allocation is also included.

The Revised Estimate provides for a net allocation of €9.675 billion. This is a gross allocation of €10.025 billion, reduced by appropriations-in-aid of some €350 million. The gross allocation has increased by €743 million on the original 2022 gross expenditure allocation. The gross allocation includes €90 million of financial supports for measures relating to Covid and Ukraine. There is also a contingency reserve that is being held centrally by Government. This will be made available, as required, throughout the year. Our continued Covid response will be based on the latest public health advice available, and our response to the Ukrainian crisis will be based on the number of additional pupils entering and remaining in our education system.

Excluding the Covid- and Ukraine-related funding, the increased funding for 2023 is €790 million, or 8.6%, above that allocated in 2022. Of this increase, €435 million relates to increases in public sector pay and pension rates agreed as part of the Building Momentum negotiations. My Department spends more than €8 billion on pay and pensions. This represents 80% of the expenditure allocation. Almost 100,000 public servants and 46,000 public service pensioners are paid out of these funds. Other significant expenditure areas include capital infrastructure, school transport, capitation grants to schools, and grants to other organisations and agencies.

In budget 2023, I secured a significant allocation for primary, post-primary and special needs education for the 2023-24 school year. This allocation relates to important measures such as almost 2,200 new teachers and special needs assistants, the provision of free primary school books, funding for senior cycle reforms, and achieving the historically low 23:1 staffing schedule at primary level.

The introduction of a new scheme to provide free books signifies a new chapter in Irish primary education. This initiative will greatly reduce the burden on families and reflects the importance this Government places on education. It will benefit up to 540,000 students across every county.

The Government is further delivering on its commitment to reduce class sizes during 2023. For the third consecutive year, I have lowered the staffing schedule for primary schools, bringing it to a historic low of 23:1.

The Revised Estimates provide funding in 2023 to progress our plans for senior cycle reform which is rooted in student well-being and putting the student at the centre of the process.

The 2023 funding allocation makes the biggest ever commitment to students with special educational needs and their families. We are building on the progress already made on additional classes, teachers and supports. With an additional 686 teachers for special education, and almost 1,200 additional special needs assistants, SNAs, coming on stream during 2023; for the first time ever we will have over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and almost 20,400 special needs assistants, bringing us to a figure of 40,000 dedicated professionals in the area of special education. There is also additional investment being provided for the expansion of the National Council for Special Education to support schools and families.

I am proud to have secured these ground-breaking investments in our education system, furthering the work of recent years in reducing class sizes, reducing costs for families, tackling disadvantage and supporting the achievement of all our students.

I am also acutely conscious of the impact Covid has had on our most vulnerable students. To this end, the Revised Estimate contains an allocation of €45 million for the continuation of an enhanced summer programme along with a range of other measures. Significant funding has been provided to schools since 2020 also to help them address the challenges posed by Covid. The required supports will continue to be provided to schools during the year based on the latest public heath advice and additional allocations will be available for drawdown from funding set aside in a separate central reserve not currently allocated to Departments.

On Ukraine, there is additional ring-fenced funding of €45 million to meet the costs of the education sector’s response to the crisis in Ukraine. This provides for the cost of hiring additional teachers and other supports. There are now over 14,000 students from Ukraine enrolled in our schools and this number is continuing to increase. The funding in the Revised Estimate is intended to meet current expenditure costs for the remainder of this school year. Similar to Covid, there is a central reserve not currently allocated to Departments. Funding will be drawn down from this reserve as needed to continue supports beyond the 2022-23 school year, to deliver additional school accommodation places, and if the number of students enrolling in our schools continues to increase throughout 2023.

Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-25. This significant investment will deliver high-quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland. Capital planning and budgeting is undertaken on a multi-annual basis. The allocation of €860 million for 2023 will facilitate the continued delivery of school building projects and other measures.

That is just a flavour of the issues that are reflected in the Revised Estimate. I hope I have been of assistance to the select committee. I are happy to address any queries members may have.