Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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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?

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It gives me the opportunity on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth to outline to the Dáil the current position in relation to ICT grants and minor works grants. I am delighted to confirm that my colleague, the Minister, this morning announced that both grants will be paid to schools in June, with a combined €65 million investment in our schools to help them with maintenance and improvements as well as helping schools to embed ICT into their teaching, learning and assessments. Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested approximately €6 billion to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for the almost 1 million students and more than 100,000 staff who learn and work in our schools every day. Minor works and ICT grants for schools are important elements of the record level of capital investment in school infrastructure. As the world around us changes rapidly, it is vital that schools can instil students with the skills they need to reach their full potential in our modern society. My colleague, the Minister, has announced €35 million in ICT funding that will empower schools to harness the opportunities technology presents and to support children and young people to become competent and engaged learners. Furthermore, minor works payments are vital in supporting our primary and special schools. I am pleased to say that the Minister has confirmed that €30 million in funding will be paid to schools in June. This will allow school communities to address issues at a local level and support their operations for the coming school year. This will give schools time to consider their plans and priorities for how best to use the funding.

In Project Ireland 2040, a commitment was given that the minor works grant would be paid to primary and special schools in December or January of the school year. In recent years, the Department’s approach has been to ensure the minor works grant is paid in advance of the following school year to facilitate a better lead-in period for schools to plan maintenance or minor works during the summer period, which must be welcomed. Minor works grants totalling €30 million were paid in April 2024, as the Deputy said, to primary schools and special schools for the current school year 2024-25. Payment of the minor works grant along with the ICT grant next month will provide valuable support to schools for their maintenance and technology needs. I pay tribute to all schools for their amazing work and the many challenges they face at the school gate. I am aware from engaging with a lot of schools and visits to many schools over the past number of months of the importance of these grants in ensuring funding is available for minor works and ICT.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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There is no doubt they are essential and welcome when they come but they are not enough. That is the reality. I need the Minister of State, the Minister and Department to hear that. Schools are screaming from the rooftops. All you need to do is look at the Dáil record and see the number of times school funding has been raised by Deputies across the House. I think there is a former school principal in the corner on the other side of the House. I am sure he will reflect on it as well. Basic funding for schools does not match increased costs. Schools try to muddle through but many cannot. They resort to voluntary contributions, fundraising or running deficits. The funding announced today is €14 million down on the funding announced last year, at a time when schools are sinking under the weight of increased costs and the number of schools being directed to the FSSU is increasing year on year significantly. Politics is being played. Government representatives went out on every local media station today announcing the figures for this grant funding. They did not say it is significantly down on last year. They are announcing the welcome news that there is funding for local schools. If the local representative in Meath was honest, she would say that instead of getting €2.2 million as we got last year, we are only getting €1.5 million for the ICT grant this year. It is down €700,000. The minor works grant is as it was, €1.2 million, which is welcome. This is a significant decrease in funding. Schools are struggling. They use these funds to deliver the essential works needed and for cash flow to ensure they stay above water. It is a major problem. I acknowledge when progress is made. I hope the Minister of State will acknowledge that I am fair in that regard but schools are chronically underfunded. The people who really suffer are those who are most vulnerable who do not have access to funds outside the school and fundraising efforts.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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There is constant engagement between school authorities and the Department. A number of schools have been in contact with the financial unit in the Department and issues have been resolved. I assure the Deputy we have moved to have the funding in place for the 2025-26 school year for the ICT and minor works grants.

These grants are hugely important. When it comes to engagement we are not isolated from what is happening at schools. The senior Minister, Deputy McEntee, and I are acutely aware of the massive work being done at the school gate and by school leaders, school teams and boards of management, all of which have a hugely important role, which they take on diligently. We understand the challenges. The Department has provided record investment over the past five years, with more than €6 billion spent on schools to bring up standards. There is a growing population and challenges remain in many communities to ensure we have adequate school places.

In respect of special schools, there is a huge amount of work to be done in my Department with regard to school places and so forth. We are working as hard as we can to ensure that work is done. The announcement of this funding today is welcomed by school authorities the length and breadth of the country. They are delighted to be getting it. It is important we acknowledge the amount of funding put into schools. We will continue to support schools in every way we can into the future.