Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Some 57 are schools for which Educate Together is the patron, with the remaining 12 being affiliated to it. Since 2012,15 primary schools have opened under the patronage of Educate Together, 11 through the new school process and four through the divesting process. At post-primary level, Educate Together is or will be involved in a total of eight schools between now and 2016. For five of these schools, it is sole patron; it is a co-patron for two of them and in a partnership model in one of them.

In addition to core funding, Educate Together received €80,000 in 2013 and a further €64,000 for opening and taking over patronage of divested schools. In February 2013 my Department approved a non-recoupable secondment for a teacher to the Educate Together management body. This secondment which was for an initial period of two years has recently been extended for a further three year period.

The Minister is committed to providing funding for the Educate Together management body within the constraints of the budgetary measures that are putting the public finances on a more sustainable basis. It is incumbent on all organisations in receipt of State funding, including the Educate Together organisation, to manage their operations in line with the funding available to them.

I again thank the Senator for providing me with the opportunity to outline to the House the funding arrangements for the Educate Together organisation. I hope the information provided is useful.