Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome all our visitors, wherever they come from. We are delighted they are here and can listen to our discussion, even if right now they have to leave.

I thank the Senators for outlining their position on the financial situation of the Sacred Heart Junior National School in Killinarden. I take this matter on behalf of the Department of Education. The Department has been made aware of the financial position of the school and is committed to offering all available and appropriate support to the school as quickly as is necessary, to avoid any uncertainty. In order to support the school, more information is needed about its financial situation and the Department has asked the school to provide this. The school is engaging with the financial support services unit, FFSU, with this purpose. To address the immediate cash flow issues in the school, the capitation grant funding due to be paid to the school in June 2025 will be paid before the end of this week. The Department is keeping in contact with the school and patron so that the appropriate support can be provided.

The Department commits to providing funding to recognise primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the capitation grant, to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, 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 priorities, except for the employment of relevant secretaries as per Circular 36/22.

As part of the capitation package in budget 2022, the Department is pleased to have secured over €30 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools, now and in the longer term, with increased day-to-day running costs. This represents an increase of approximately 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates. This increase is on top of the approximately 9.2% increase from last year's budget. This will bring the standard rate of capitation grant to €224 per pupil in primary schools from September 2025. Enhanced rates will be paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.

Schools should also ensure that they are availing of the Office of Government Procurement, OGP, frameworks and getting best value for money for all school expenditure. In addition to these grants, €45 million in cost-of-living supports issued in September 2024 to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education system. This additional funding announced in budget 2025 is designed to assist schools with increasing day-to-day running costs, such as heating and electricity, and was paid at a rate of €36 per pupil in primary schools. The FFSU, funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support for schools in financial matters, including budgeting and cash flow management.