Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 483: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if extra funding will be provided to voluntary secondary schools for insurance, the wages of secretaries, the wages of caretakers, the cleaning of schools, the upkeep of school buildings and for educational materials in order that there is equality between those schools and community and comprehensive schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12926/06]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 484: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to problems faced by secondary schools due to increasing insurance premiums; the measures she is taking to deal with this situation; the reason secondary schools attached to religious orders have to pay this while community and comprehensive schools do not; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12927/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 483 and 484 together.

As the Deputy is aware, differing funding arrangements have evolved for the different school types at second level. At the core of all arrangements is a reliance upon capitation as the principal determinant of funding. There are however significant differences in the approaches to the funding of back-up services such as for secretaries and caretakers.

Responsibility for arranging insurance cover on school property and against public liability is a matter for the managerial authorities of voluntary secondary schools, which are privately owned. I am aware of concerns expressed by school authorities in relation to increased insurance costs. Per capita grants towards the operating costs of voluntary secondary schools may be used for this purpose.

In my view it is important to consider the issue of insurance and other costs for voluntary secondary schools in the wider context of the equalisation of funding arrangements across the second level system.

There have been significant improvements in the level of funding provided to voluntary secondary schools. Since January 2005, the standard per capita grant has been increased by a cumulative €24 per pupil and now stands at €298. Under the school services support fund initiative, the school services grant has also been increased since January 2005 by a cumulative €28 per pupil bringing the grant from €131 per pupil to €159. These grants are in addition to the per capita funding of up to €40,000 per school that is also provided by my Department to secondary schools towards secretarial and caretaking services. A secondary school with 500 pupils, for example, now receives annual grants of up to €270,000 towards general expenses and support services including secretarial services.

These significant increases in the funding of voluntary secondary schools are a clear demonstration of my commitment to prioritise available resources to address the needs of schools.