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

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House, on behalf of the Minister for Education, the position regarding the financial situation in St. Cronan’s Junior National School in Swords. I fully accept that the school does extraordinary work.

The Department of Education was not 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 about the school’s financial situation. The Department made initial contact with the school on this matter on 18 March 2025. The school has confirmed that the issue relates to a massive increase in electricity costs. It is working with the financial support services unit, FSSU, and the Office of Government Procurement, OGP, framework on the matter.

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 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 own priorities, except for the employment of relevant secretaries as per Circular 36/2022.

As part of the capitation package in budget 2025, the Department is pleased to have secured over €30 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and in the longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This represents an increase of around 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates. This increase is on top of the circa 9.2% increase from last year’s budget. This will bring the standard rate of capitation grant to the level of €224 per pupil in primary schools from September 2025. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils 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. The FSSU, funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cash flow management, and is actively engaging with the school in question.

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