Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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I thank the Minister for coming to the House to take this issue. Yesterday, the Catholic Primary School Management Association, or CPSMA, released a study on foot of its commission to Grant Thornton to carry out an analysis of the funding situation in most of our primary schools. The analysis highlights the major problems which have been caused to schools as a result of cuts in capitation and their accumulated impact since 2010. The capitation rate was cut from €200 per pupil to €170 per pupil in 2010 and, unfortunately, no progress has been made to reverse that. The report lays out in very stark terms the impact of the cuts and the fact that so many of our primary schools are struggling to meet their basic overheads and pay for heat, light, insurance and so on.

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These are basic overheads which are not fully funded by the State. The reduction in the capitation grant has varied to some extent between schools, depending on the size of the schools. In small schools, the capitation grant is worth about €26,000, or 42% of their day-to-day spending. In a medium school, the average capitation grant is €57,000 which meets just over half of its spending. In a larger school, the average capitation grant is €114,000 which represents about 61% of spending. The level of State funding for those basic items in schools falls far short of what is required to provide for a basic environment and conditions for students in order for them to function properly.

We hear all the time how the economy has turned the corner and there has been impressive growth in the past several years. We are told how matters are back on track while many of the cuts to pay and other funding have been reversed. There has been an element of tax cuts and the Government frequently talks about how it hopes to introduce further tax cuts. It is the height of folly in my view and highly irresponsible, however, to talk about the prospect of tax cuts when our primary schools do not have a basic level of funding that allows them to operate satisfactorily and in some kind of manner which one would have a right to expect in the present day and age.

Over recent years, children have disproportionately carried the burden of the recession. This is definitely borne out in respect of our primary schools. The conditions and the climate in primary schools are completely inadequate in terms of providing the right kind of atmosphere for children to learn well. Requests for voluntary contributions put significant pressures on children themselves and on their parents, while the shortfall in funding puts enormous pressure on schools. Increasingly, principals and teachers have to engage in basic fundraising to cover overheads. This is a diversion of attention from educational welfare and concerns to matters such as organising draws and sales of work. In this day and age, it is time to end that. Will the Minister give a commitment to reverse those cuts as a matter of urgency?

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Shortall for raising this issue.

As part of the programme for Government, we intend to increase capitation grants. In the past two budgets, I have secured €1 billion extra for education, of which 85% has gone into our schools. I have not been able to increase capitation grants but I have restored other important services needed in our schools. I have been in a position to fund more than 6,000 additional teachers and 3,000 additional special needs assistants, SNAs. Many of those teachers have gone to badly needed work. We have reformed the resource teaching model, which included putting 1,600 additional teachers over two years into resource teaching to strengthen the special education model. That was backed by an additional 3,000 SNAs. We have also, for example, opened more than 300 special units for children with special needs, which provide a high level of pupil support. We made investment in pupil places, which has to match the additional enrolment being experienced. We have continued to fund the reduction of the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level.

While I agree we need to examine the capitation grant issue, under the programme for Government we intend to increase it. Each year, however, we have to assess what other priorities need to be addressed. Significant funds of up to €1 billion have been provided, 85% of which has gone into schools. This has been an important investment and has allowed us to enhance many services both at primary and second level. It has allowed us to start investment in digital capacity, which is important to the quality of education provided.

I looked at the study carried out by Grant Thornton and it will be an input into our consideration of budgetary matters in the year ahead. We have introduced other measures to support schools in the management of their financial resources. A schools procurement unit has been established, as has a financial service support unit, which work with schools. They have helped schools to better manage issues that had been putting pressure on them. Voluntary contributions, as the Deputy said, must be voluntary. They cannot be required of a pupil to participate in education. We are clear on that and have emphasised it to schools repeatedly.

There are many legitimate needs in and demands on the education system. As the Deputy rightly averted to, new entrant teachers are setting out their needs. There is a need for new curricula, as well as investment in teachers and SNAs. I try to balance those each year within the available resources. I will continue to do that. I recognise this is an important area of need.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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That was a disappointing response. It is shameful that almost 100 years since the foundation of the State, we still do not have free primary education. How basic can one get? This is in spite of the fact that Article 42.4 of the Constitution commits that "the State shall provide for free primary education". Yet, we do not have that free primary education. The programme for Government committed to investing in annual increases in primary and secondary capitation rates and that the Government would set three-year rolling programmes for the funding of schools. None of that has been done. The Minister published the glossy Action Plan for Education earlier this year, at the start of which he set out "our aim is to make the Irish education and training service the best in Europe by 2026". Those words ring hollow when the Minister cannot even provide the basic funding for items such as heating, cleaning, lighting and insurance in our schools.

We need to get our priorities right. Does the Minister believe in the principle of free primary education? If so, why is he not delivering on it? He talks about other areas of funding. While this is all very welcome, those other areas of funding which have been increased do not pay the bills in primary schools. Will the Minister give a commitment that he will, at a minimum, reverse the 2010 cuts in this year's budget? Will he also look at the overall funding requirements for covering the basics and overheads? What is provided only meets about half of the cost of running schools. This should be the Minister's and the Government's number one priority. We need to stop talking about tax cuts and other such measures when our children are paying the cost of the recession. Will the Minister commit to reversing these cuts as a matter of urgency in this year's budget?

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I strongly believe in equality of opportunity in our education system.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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Yet the Minister will not fund it.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I have made the decisions that I believe will best serve our students and our pupils. I have put 6,000 additional teachers and 3,000 additional SNAs into our schools.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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That still does not pay the bills.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I have extended the support for disadvantaged schools to 110 additional schools.

I have made sure that 50,000 young people with special education needs fulfil their potential.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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None of those things pay the bills.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I have expanded the number of special units catering for children with very acute special needs.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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None of those things pay the bills.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Please allow the Minister to answer.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I have been able to preside over a situation where the latest assessment of our education at primary level shows that our primary pupils at ten years of age are the best readers in Europe and the best at mathematics in Europe. We are delivering money into the education system and we are making a difference in students' lives. Of course we will look at the other legitimate demands for additional resources but I can stand over a record of which I can be proud -----

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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It will not pay for heating or cleaning or basic overheads.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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----- in which more children are fulfilling their potential, particularly at primary level. It is a mark of what we have been able to achieve as a result of the economic recovery that we are putting it back into our young people to give them a future.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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It is continuing to put them under pressure.