Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Lahart for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House on behalf of the Minister for Education the position regarding the financial situation in Sacred Heart Junior National School in Killinarden.

The Department of Education has been made aware of the current situation regarding the financial position of this school. The Department is committed to offering all available and appropriate supports to the school as quickly as necessary to avoid any further uncertainty. In order to support the school, some more information is needed. The Deputy has provided me with some information this evening, and I shall certainly see that it is passed on to the Minister, but the Department requires further information and has asked the school to provide this. The school is currently engaging with the FSSU for this purpose. In order to address the immediate cash flow issues in the school, the capitation grant funding due to be paid to the school in June 2025 will be paid to the school before the end of this week. The Department is keeping in contact with the school and the patron in order that appropriate support can be provided to the school.

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 the Deputy said, are the capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general upkeep, and the ancillary grant to cater 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 a common grant from which the board of management can allocate according to its priorities, except for the employment of relevant secretaries as per Circular 0036/2022. As part of the capitation package in budget 2025, the Department is pleased to have secured more than €30 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This represents an increase of approximately 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates.

This increase is on top of a 9.2% increase from last year's budget. This brings the standard rate of capitation grant to a level of €224 per pupil in primary schools from September 2025. Of course, enhanced rates will be paid in respect of schools with special educational needs and Traveller pupils. Schools should also ensure that they are availing of the available OGP procurement frameworks, and getting best value for money for all school expenditure. In addition to these grants, €45 million of cost-of-living supports issued in November 2024 to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme.

I am running a bit short on time but I can say to the Deputy that the financial support services unit, FSSU, funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cashflow, and that the school was referred to the FSSU by the Department. The FSSU is conducting an assessment of the school's financial position while also providing guidance and support to the school.

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