Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am very pleased to have secured €10.5 billion in total funding for the education budget of 2024. This significant increase in funding ensures that the total budget is at the highest ever for our primary and post-primary schools. The funding will ensure continued reduced costs for families, it will continue to tackle disadvantage, and it will provide further supports to safeguard inclusive education for all school communities.

This year’s budget will provide targeted funding for school communities with an increase in cost-of-living and capitation funding of more than €81 million. The current standard rate of capitation, excluding once-off measures provided, is €183 per pupil at primary level. At post-primary, the rate is €316 per student for voluntary secondary schools. The standard capitation rates are different for community and comprehensive schools as well as those in the education and training board, ETB, sector, as these schools are funded via non-pay budget grants from the Department.

As part of the cost-of-living and capitation funding package in budget 2024, I am pleased to have secured €21 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and in the longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. The first-year 2024 cost of this is €7 million, as the Deputy referenced, but the full-year cost in 2025 is €21 million which, combined with €60 million in cost-of-living funding, brings the total to €81 million. This will support a permanent restoration of funding for all primary and post-primary schools from September 2024. This will bring the basic rate of capitation to €200 per student in primary schools and to €345 in voluntary secondary schools. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs. This represents an increase of approximately 9.2% of current standard and enhanced capitation rates.

In addition to the €21 million in the permanent base, I also secured, as I said, €60 million as part of the cost-of-living measures. All recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme will benefit from this additional capitation funding, which will be paid at an average rate of €49 per pupil at primary level and €75 at post-primary level. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs.

Schools also receive an ancillary services grant. The standard rate is €173 per pupil in primary schools and €224.50 per student in post-primary schools.

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