Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also want to raise the issue of the capitation grant. The cut in this grant is having a severe impact on schools. The amount was €200 and if my memory serves me right and it was cut in 2008 and now stands at €170 per pupil. This has cost schools an estimated €105 million per annum and has left parents to engage in fundraising. Last year, the figure raised by parents through raffles, cake sales and race nights was €46 million. It is not sustainable in the long term. Parents are also making a contribution for basic items, which is putting huge pressure on them, particularly on low and middle-income families. These contributions come on top of paying for uniforms, books, tablets and extracurricular activities. Boards of management tell us that they are struggling to keep heat going and lights on. Earlier this week, Deputy Fleming, the Minister for Justice and Equality and I met with representatives of the boards of management of Catholic schools. Today, we met with the INTO. Both bodies outlined graphically to us the pressures they are under financially. The INTO has calculated that a €20 increase in the capitation grant per head per annum bringing the capitation grant to €190 would cost €12 million. That would have been a huge sum of money at one time and I know money must be found somewhere for everything but it is not a massive sum of money in terms of the budget in today's money. The public finances are in better shape. I ask the Government to look at that this year. I will discuss the minor works grant and class sizes during the second part of my contribution but could the Minister address specifically the issue of the capitation?

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