Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue. I have put it in for a number of days now. I thank the junior Minister, Deputy Moynihan, for being here.

It is prompted by a frustration I hear in my constituency and from colleagues across the State in relation to the minor works and ICT grants. They were announced in April 2024. There was an expectation we would see them in April 2025. I submitted questions but there was no clear indication of when they would be announced. They were announced today, which I welcome. They are significantly down on last year's funding. The announcement by the previous Minister, Deputy Foley, was for €79 million. The announcement today by the current Minister, Deputy McEntee, is for €65 million, with a reduction in the ICT grant funding.

This is all in the context of a school funding emergency. We know from any number of indicators from teachers' unions, conferences, principal representative groups, teachers, principals individually and collectively and surveys, formal and anecdotal, that schools are to the pin of their collar. One survey showed that more than 70% of primary schools ran a deficit in the previous 12 months. They are borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. I think there has been a 35% increase in the cost of running a school since 2010 but, incredibly, the capitation grant has been flat since then. There are increased costs of heating, principally, electricity and insurance. One survey in my region showed insurance costs alone account for more than 25% of the capitation grant for the vast majority of schools, and for 100% of it in a small number of cases. In every case, it is a significant burden. According to one survey, in addition to heating, electricity, insurance and transport costs were raised. I am aware that the secondary school in Ashbourne, for example, is fundraising for transport costs to football matches etc. Due to the poor state of basic funding to schools, which also applies to the ancillary grant, according to surveys three quarters of respondent primary schools say that the ancillary grant does not cover ancillary staff costs. On average, out of the 1,200 schools that replied to the survey I saw, there is a shortfall of €7,200. As they cannot make it up through grants, they have to scramble, robbing Peter to pay Paul, fundraising efforts and so-called voluntary contributions. It is unsustainable. I welcome the grant funding announced today but will the Minister of State tell me why it has decreased so significantly? What will this Government do to address the crisis in school funding?

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