Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As part of budget 2023, as the Deputy will be aware, the Department is investing more than €9.6 billion in the primary and post-primary education system. This reflects an increase of €443 million in core funding as well as more than €145 million in non-core expenditure. This builds on significant increases in recent budgets and reflects the Government’s commitment to a quality, inclusive school system.

As part of the cost-of-living measures to be enacted this year, €90 million was provided in one-off additional funding to schools to support increased running costs for primary and post-primary schools in the free education system. This was paid at a rate of 40% of schools’ basic and enhanced rates of capitation. The minor works grants, ancillary grants and ICT grants form part of the overall range of grants, which were specifically referenced by the Deputy. The minor works grant is provided to all primary schools to enable them undertake small-scale minor maintenance and improvement works. It can also be used for the purchase of equipment, including supporting ICT provision. Funding of minor works grants to the value of €309 million has been issued since 2018. This includes a €30 million grant which was paid to all primary schools in April this year.

Ancillary grant funding for primary and post-primary schools facilitates the provision of caretaker and secretarial services in schools. It is paid over a number of instalments, depending on the particular sector. In 2022, the Department provided €170 million ancillary grant funding, which included €98.6 million at primary level and €72 million at post-primary level. This grant funding to schools was increased in recent years to facilitate salary increases for secretaries and caretakers. All ancillary grant funding for the current school year has been paid in full. That includes all minor works and ancillary grants.

The ICT grant funding is part of the overall digital strategy for schools and has involved an investment of €260 million since 2016, including the issue of €100 million in 2020 to enable schools to support the continuity of teaching and learning during the pandemic. This grant funding was last paid to primary and post-primary schools in December 2021 and involved an investment of €50 million at that stage. A further €50 million in grant funding for ICT infrastructure to address learners impacted by the digital divide also issued in late 2021 under Ireland’s national recovery and resilience plan through the NextGenerationEU facility. The Department intends to pay the next tranche of ICT grant funding in the coming school year.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

The specific timing for the issuing of the ICT grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department, including the building programme to ensure the supply of school accommodation. As part of the forthcoming review of the national development plan, my Department’s aim is to provide better clarity and certainty for schools on the timelines for payment of minor works and ICT grant funding.

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