Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)

I hear what the Deputy is saying. There are specific issues in the school. He can correct me if I am wrong, but I understand many students come from a local IPAS centre. It has challenges that perhaps not every school faces, although a lot of schools around the country, including many in my constituency, face similar challenges. That is one of the reasons the capitation grant increased so significantly this year. It needed to increase. Nonetheless, that has happened.

There has been an increase of approximately 22% in capitation rates for primary schools in the 2026-27 school year. As I said, there has been an increase of nearly 50% in the level of capitation grants paid to primary schools. Regarding the specific school the Deputy mentioned, as I have said, the Department will make contact with it to seek further details in order to determine what the issues are and what support can be given. There is no record of contact from the school regarding capitation or ancillary funding.

The financial services unit, funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters. It routinely provides support and advice to large numbers of schools each year. As I said, I will pass on the contact details. I will not call them out. The Deputy may well be aware of them. It is important that the school knows the Department stands ready to support in whatever way it can.

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