Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister and her officials for being here.

In relation to school funding, there is an ambition to increase the primary school capitation grant from €200 to €224.

This year, we had the cost-of-living funding package, which was needed. of €50 million. It equated in real terms to the funding per pupil in primary schools, for example, to be €236. If we do not have that cost-of-living package next year, the net effect would be minus €12 per child. Is she hoping that we will have that cost-of-living package for next year? Is she making that case in the budgetary negotiations? What are her expectations? She will have heard from all the stakeholders that they are under major pressure to make ends meet for schools. What is her initial response on that?