Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and will convey the contents of his contribution to the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, who is unavoidably absent.

I wish to clarify the position regarding the provision to schools of interpreters, or funding, to assist deaf parents in communicating with teachers. Schools' running costs are met by the Department's scheme of capitation grants, which affords schools considerable flexibility in the use of resources to cater for the needs of all their pupils. The Minister believes this is a preferable approach to putting in place grants for specific items.

As Deputy Hayes is aware, the primary school capitation grant has been increased substantially in recent years. Since 1997 the standard rate of capitation grant has been increased from €57.14 per pupil to €163.58 per pupil. This represents an increase of more than 186% in the standard rate of capitation grant since 1997.

There have been other significant improvements in the level of funding provided to primary schools in recent years. Since 1997 the standard rate of the ancillary services grant has increased from €38.09 per pupil to €145.50 per pupil at present. The amount of grant paid to an individual school is determined by the enrolment in the school, subject to a minimum grant of €8,730 for 60 pupils or fewer and a maximum grant of €72,750 for 500 or more pupils. Furthermore, enhanced rates of capitation funding are paid in respect of children with special educational needs who attend special schools or special classes attached to mainstream primary schools. The current rates range from €418 to €805 per pupil.

Significant improvements have been made in recent years in the level of funding for voluntary secondary schools. With effect from January 2007, the standard per capita grant was increased by €18 per pupil and now amounts to €316 per pupil. In addition, voluntary secondary schools have benefited by the increase of €30 per pupil in 2007 in the support services grant, bringing that grant to €189 per pupil.

The cumulative increase of €48 per pupil in a voluntary secondary school brings the aggregate grant to over €500 per pupil. These grants are in addition to the per capita funding of up to €40,000 per school that is also provided by the Department to secondary schools to meet the costs of secretarial and caretaking services. For example, in the case of a secondary school with 500 pupils, the annual grants towards general expenses and support services are over €290,000. This represents an increase of 83% since 2000.

Budget allocations for schools in the VEC, and community and comprehensive sectors are increased on a pro rata basis with increases in the per capita grant. All schools are eligible for recurrent per capita grants towards special classes and curricular support grants.

Both primary and post-primary schools have benefited from major increases in funding in recent years. Schools can use some of this funding to pay for interpreters. The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, has no intention of introducing specific grants for this purpose. However, she will continue to prioritise increases in capitation and other grants paid to schools.

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