Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Shortall for raising this issue.

As part of the programme for Government, we intend to increase capitation grants. In the past two budgets, I have secured €1 billion extra for education, of which 85% has gone into our schools. I have not been able to increase capitation grants but I have restored other important services needed in our schools. I have been in a position to fund more than 6,000 additional teachers and 3,000 additional special needs assistants, SNAs. Many of those teachers have gone to badly needed work. We have reformed the resource teaching model, which included putting 1,600 additional teachers over two years into resource teaching to strengthen the special education model. That was backed by an additional 3,000 SNAs. We have also, for example, opened more than 300 special units for children with special needs, which provide a high level of pupil support. We made investment in pupil places, which has to match the additional enrolment being experienced. We have continued to fund the reduction of the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level.

While I agree we need to examine the capitation grant issue, under the programme for Government we intend to increase it. Each year, however, we have to assess what other priorities need to be addressed. Significant funds of up to €1 billion have been provided, 85% of which has gone into schools. This has been an important investment and has allowed us to enhance many services both at primary and second level. It has allowed us to start investment in digital capacity, which is important to the quality of education provided.

I looked at the study carried out by Grant Thornton and it will be an input into our consideration of budgetary matters in the year ahead. We have introduced other measures to support schools in the management of their financial resources. A schools procurement unit has been established, as has a financial service support unit, which work with schools. They have helped schools to better manage issues that had been putting pressure on them. Voluntary contributions, as the Deputy said, must be voluntary. They cannot be required of a pupil to participate in education. We are clear on that and have emphasised it to schools repeatedly.

There are many legitimate needs in and demands on the education system. As the Deputy rightly averted to, new entrant teachers are setting out their needs. There is a need for new curricula, as well as investment in teachers and SNAs. I try to balance those each year within the available resources. I will continue to do that. I recognise this is an important area of need.

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