Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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102. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the number of schools reporting funding crises, related to increased energy, insurance and other costs, and which have not been matched with increased central funding; if she is concerned with the number of schools referred to the financial services support unit, for example; how she intends to respond to this funding crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16977/25]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to ask the Minister her views on the number of schools reporting funding crises related to increased energy, insurance and other costs and that have not been matched with increased central funding; if she is concerned with the number of schools referred to the financial services support unit, for example; how she intends to respond to this funding crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government and I as Minister for Education are committed to increasing funding to support all schools. This has already seen a €30 million permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and in the longer term with increased day-to-day running costs through budget 2025. This represents an increase of approximately 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates and is on top of the circa 9.2% increase from last year’s budget. In the past two budgets alone, there has been a 22% increase in the overall funding being provided through capitation for schools.

My Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the capitation grant, which caters 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 the 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.

The current standard rate of capitation grant is €200 per pupil in primary school and €345 per student in post-primary school. Budget 2025 will bring the standard rate of capitation grant to the level of €224 per pupil in primary school and €386 per student in post-primary school from September 2025. Schools will see that benefit and increase at primary and post-primary levels. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.

Any possible further increases will be part of further budget negotiations but I cannot do that here. I expect, as do all colleagues, to engage with the Minister for public expenditure and reform. There is a clear commitment in the programme for Government to do more, ensure we continue to increase capitation and, above all, support schools as far as we possibly can, not just in providing them funding, but also through the FSSU and ensuring we provide them with advice and support. That is why so many of them come to the unit, as we have seen in the past few years.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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It is evident that the Minister is not doing enough and her plan is to continue to not do enough. In the past month, a cursory look at the Dáil Chamber showed that at least 15 TDs from every party raised funding concerns on behalf of dozens of local schools. In every case, it was about insufficient funding and money that was intended for programme A, whether that be educational disadvantage, summer works or hot school meals, being used instead for day-to-day running costs: wages, insurance, energy, electricity and heat. School leaders have handed over their books to local TDs and shown them what is happening. For example, it is not unusual for a school’s insurance costs to be in excess of 25% of its capitation. It is very clear that the current level of funding is wholly inadequate. The Minister has indicated the projected level of funding. With respect, we have all heard her response ten times over because it is the exact same response to every Deputy who has raised this matter. There is a significant problem and it needs an urgent response.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have also spoken to teachers and principals and I fully accept we need to do more. There is a clear commitment in the programme for Government to do more. However, the Deputy has to accept that, in the past two years alone, there has been a 22% increase in capitation across primary and post-primary as well as an enhanced rate for special schools or where support is needed in DEIS schools. I am not saying that is going far enough but I cannot negotiate the budget here on the floor of the Dáil. What I am saying clearly is I am committed to increasing it.

The FSSU is the unit that is specifically there in the Department to support schools that are going through a difficult time and say they need financial assistance. Last year alone, two schools got an advanced capitation rate. It is not that the Department is not reaching out or helping or will not provide funding. When schools reach out, it is often about looking to see how they can reduce costs, how can we put in place plans to support them and how can the unit work with them.

That is what the Department has been doing. I am not saying we do not do more. I want to see that capitation rate increase. There is, however, something else the Department can do that it is doing and has been doing for some time. It is working with schools, providing plans and budgets and supporting them in that way as well.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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The people who deserve a huge amount of credit here, given the financial pressure they are under, are school principals, school leaders and school communities. In many of these cases they are keeping schools operational that, without their effort, would be under the water.

I recognise there have been increased levels of funding, but there has also been a far greater level of increase in demands, for example, insurance costs. I have figures that show many schools are spending at least 25% of their budget on insurance costs alone, before anything else. The world has changed. The Minister is talking about €30 million in additional funding. My party called for €150 million in additional funding and provided for that in our alternative budget. That is the scale of ambition that is required and sought, not just by Sinn Féin but also by teaching unions and school leaders.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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With all due respect, the Deputy's party called for multiple different variations of €150 million. We have to work within a budget and we have to make sure we prioritise where the need is most. I fully accept the need is here in education and that we need to provide more, but there is no school that will be let go to the wall because funding is not being provided. I cannot be any clearer than that. I also commend our principals, teachers and all the staff who work so hard day in, day out. I appeal to any school, if it is in financial difficulty, to please reach out, engage at an early stage and make sure it is engaging with the Department. There is not a single school in this country, and there are 3,000 primary schools and 700 post-primary schools, that will not be supported and assisted, be it in providing finance ahead of schedule or providing other types of assistance. That is not to say I do not want to do more-----

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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We cannot be running from one crisis to the next.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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If we start allocating budgets outside of the budget every month, then we do not have a budget.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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That is exactly what is happening. You are robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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We have to work within the budget that has been provided, and what has been provided is 22% of an increase. I am absolutely committed to providing more. It could not be any clearer in the programme for Government. There is no school that will be let go to the wall because there is no funding being provided. We will always provide funding to schools.