Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I suppose the one thing that we would find, on the capitation funding and the ancillary funding, is that all the schools, be they primary schools or post-primary schools, have very ambitious plans and they are always looking for funding to advance the cause of their school, their pupils and the cohort that are working in them as well.

There was significant capitation funding announced in this year's budget. That came strongly from the school communities. At the time that the then Minister, Deputy McEntee, and I would have visited schools, capitation was a hugely important discussion at the school gate. We have provided significant elements. We have tried to help special schools as well in terms of capitation and making sure that the cohort aged from 12 to 18 are getting the same funding as their counterparts or peers in post-primary education, but there is more work to be done there. This year and into 2026, there are considerable moneys being spent. I suppose that is to try to balance the cost-of-living sums that were given in the last number of years, which were no longer available to the Exchequer. This has helped to fund schools. We understand the pressure that schools and school communities are under to run efficiently and effectively. I compliment the school boards of management, teachers, SNAs and the teams within the schools the length and breadth of the country for the amazing work they are doing every day and understand the challenges that they have.