Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the position relating to financial funding for schools.

The Department is committed to offering all available and appropriate supports to the schools that have contacted the Department or have been referred to the FSSU. 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, as the Deputy mentioned. 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 a 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 the circular of 2022.

The current standard rate of capitation grant is €200 per pupil in primary schools and €345 per student in post-primary schools. Primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils are paid the capitation and the ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils. 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 in the longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This represents an increase of 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates. This increase is on top of a 9.2% increase from last year’s budget. This will bring the standard rate of capitation grant to €224 per pupil in primary and €386 per student in post-primary from September 2025.

Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils. Schools should also ensure they are availing of the available Office of Government Procurement frameworks and getting best value for money for all school expenditure. I acknowledge the Deputy mentioned that is being done by a number of schools.

In addition to these grants, €45 million in cost-of-living supports was issued in November 2024 to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education system. This additional funding announced in budget 2025 is designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. This funding was paid at a rate of €36 per pupil in primary schools. Enhanced rates were also paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.

The Department of Education is aware that costs and funding can pose a very real problem for schools and is constantly working to address this matter and to enhance the financial and other supports available to schools. While not wishing to pre-empt the outcomes of any future budget negotiations or fiscal parameters agreed by Government, the Department of Education will continue to seek to prioritise the funding required to meet the ongoing costs of running schools.

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 cash flow management.

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