John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 40: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the withdrawal of capitation grants for the schools service which provides school books for children with special educational needs in primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12289/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have consistently said that the 2009 budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. These decisions were made to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run. In this respect, education, while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure, could not be entirely spared. The changes made in regard to book grants were one aspect of these measures.

The Deputy refers to grants for school books for children with special needs. To clarify, there was no specific special needs aspect to the book grant paid to schools. The key change is that aid for school books is being restricted to schools that are included within the delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, scheme. By limiting the funding to schools within the DEIS scheme, savings of €7.5 million will be achieved. DEIS is the action plan for educational inclusion and focuses on addressing the educational needs of children and young people from disadvantaged communities.

Approximately €7 million was made available in 2008 to DEIS schools at primary and post-primary level for the school book grant scheme. The same level of provision has been made available for distribution to schools in the DEIS programme in 2009. The continuation of this provision is testament to the Government's determination to prioritise social inclusion and protect the most vulnerable in our society. We must focus targeted resources on the schools in most need. This is in line with the broad thrust of the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor General's 2006 report on primary disadvantage.

My Department has encouraged schools to implement book rental schemes as a measure to minimise the cost of school books to all parents. As far back as 1993, a report commissioned by my Department dealt with the factors which contribute to the cost of school textbooks. The report included useful suggestions for schools, including a code of good practice for the successful operation of book rental schemes. Many schools have developed such rental schemes. It is open to schools to utilise general capitation funding to fund book rental schemes.

Enhanced rates of capitation funding are paid in respect of children with special educational needs. The capitation rates for these children range from €512 to €986 per pupil, an increase of 59% from the rate in 2006. I have already said that I favour a reform of the grants system to one overall funding grant that allows schools to use the funding to meet the priorities they identify. I fully acknowledge that there are pressures on school funding generally and that it is difficult for schools to cover all competing priorities. However, we are in very difficult times.

By any standards there have been significant improvements in school funding within a relatively short period and the Government is committed to increasing funding further for schools as resources permit. The current state of the public finances and the widely acknowledged need for further cuts in public expenditure simply reinforce the imperatives that underpinned the decisions taken in October.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister for his reply. I am concerned about how these changes will affect pupils in schools throughout the State. The Minister referred to support for DEIS schools. I have before me a list of parents and teachers of students with special needs in non-DEIS schools. Recurring themes in the months since our economic difficulties emerged are that there must be value for money and that the vulnerable must be protected. In this instance, students with special educational needs in non-DEIS schools are falling through the cracks.

In my own constituency of Mayo, a capitation grant of €65,000 was paid to the county council last year to provide a school library service. Special needs teachers were able to obtain books under this scheme for children with special needs in their schools. We are all aware of the need for reductions in public expenditure. It is only right that those parents who can afford to do so should pay for their children's school books. However, what about vulnerable children in non-DEIS schools? What has the Minister to say to those teachers whose students have been eligible for this service thus far but are now to be denied it? Has any provision been made for such students? Officials in Mayo County Council have told me that the cutbacks will affect not only children with special needs but also non-national children, or the new Irish as they are often described. Other services that may be affected include the link-up to the Health Service Executive for the provision of speech therapy services. What will the Minister say to the parents and teachers of the children for whom these services will be withdrawn in June 2009?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy has raised several issues. The Comptroller and Auditor General indicated clearly that any supports we provide should be targeted at students in disadvantaged areas. Therefore, I have ensured that funding is targeted at DEIS schools.

Deputy O'Mahony did not refer to the increase in the capitation grant this year. It is true that some grants have been withdrawn but the reality is that there has been a significant increase in capitation to the primary sector. Neither did the Deputy refer to the enhanced rates of capitation funding paid in respect of children with special educational needs who attend special schools or special classes attached to mainstream schools. The current rate ranges from €512 to €986 per pupil, an increase of 59% since 2006. My objective is to offer flexibility to schools by allowing them to decide on their own priorities for capitation funding.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The problem is that the Minister is giving with one hand and taking away with the other. The enhanced funding to which he refers was in place before these cutbacks were introduced. What is to be done for the children who continue to require the supports formerly available under this scheme? That is the question I want the Minister to answer.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy claims the enhanced provisions were in place prior to the changes announced in the October budget. That is not correct. I specifically undertook to increase the capitation grant in that budget having acknowledged that the existing grant was too low. There has been a 59% increase in the rate of capitation, which now ranges from €512 to as much as €986, to children with special educational needs who are either in mainstream classes or in special classes. The amount of the capitation depends on the individual needs of the child. That is significant in itself.