Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Department’s voted Estimate for capital and current expenditure for 2024 stands at €10.9 billion. This represents an increase of more than €2.8 billion, or 35%, since 2019. As I said previously, this is the third highest allocation to a Government Department. It indicates the commitment of Government to education. In the lead-up to budget 2025, as Minister for Education, I will continue to deliver on the priorities outlined in the programme for Government. In the last four years, I have delivered substantial increases in investment in our education system and I remain committed to this vision of a world-class education system for all.

The Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants, as I have outlined previously, are capitation grants to cater for day-to-day running and the ancillary grant which caters for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as one single common grant from which the board of management can choose to prioritise. The current standard rate of the capitation grant is €183 per pupil in primary schools and €316 per student in post-primary schools. Primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils are paid the capitation and ancillary grants as if they had the 60 students in place.

In addition to these grants, €20 million in funding was issued in October 2023 to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme. This funding was the first tranche of an additional €60 million in overall funding announced as part of budget 2024 measures designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. A further €40 million in funding was delivered earlier this year.

As part of the capitation package in budget 2024, I am pleased to have secured €21 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools both now and in the longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This will support a permanent restoration of funding for all primary and post-primary schools. This will bring the basic rate, as I have already said, to €200 per pupil at primary level and to €345 per pupil at post-primary level. Enhanced rates are also payable to students in special education settings and to Traveller pupils.

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