Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 614: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the structures regarding the allocation of funding and resources to primary and second level schools; if there are any regional structures in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34326/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The funding arrangements made by my Department at primary and second-level reflect the different management and ownership arrangements for primary, voluntary secondary, comprehensive and community and VEC schools and colleges. Such funding and resourcing arrangements are structured in accordance with long standing agreements with the management authorities for the different schools. At the core of all arrangements is a reliance upon capitation as the principle determinant of funding. All schools submit a return of pupil enrolments based on the number attending as at 30th September each year and funding arrangements and teaching resources are generally determined on this basis. Considerable flexibility in the use of these resources is provided to schools thus allowing them to prioritise expenditures, as appropriate.

In the case of VEC schools and Community Colleges, allocations are made to VECs as part of a block grant, which also covers the VEC head-office overheads and other activities apart from the second-level programme. The Department does not earmark allocations for individual schools or for the various activities of VECs. The way in which the grant is distributed among schools is a matter for each committee in line with their priorities and perceptions of need.

Apart from the VEC sector to which I referred earlier, there are no other regional structures in place in relation to the resourcing and funding of schools.