Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will assist to pay increases in gas and electricity costs which is causing hardship to schools in disadvantaged areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34110/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's scheme of capitation grants provide funding towards the general operating costs of schools which would include heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, painting, teaching aids and other miscellaneous charges. The capitation grant has been increased substantially in recent years.

The standard rate of capitation grant for primary schools has increased from €57.14 (£45) in 1997 to €145.58 in 2006. This represents an increase of almost 155% in the capitation grant over that period.

This grant is in addition to the Ancillary Services Grant which provides additional funding for primary schools towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services. The standard rate of grant per pupil under this scheme has also been substantially increased — from €102 per pupil in 2002 to the current rate of €139 per pupil.

There has also been significant improvements in the level of funding for second level schools in recent years. Since January 2005, the standard per capita grant has been increased by a cumulative €24 per pupil and now stands at €298 per pupil. Voluntary secondary schools have also benefited from a series of equalisation payments.

Payments to all second level schools under the school services support fund initiative have also increased in recent years. Introduced with effect from the 2000/01 school year, the school services support grant has been increased since January 2005 by a cumulative €28 per pupil bringing the annual grant from €131 per pupil to €159 per pupil. These grants are in addition to the 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. This represents an increase of 83% since 2000.

These significant increases in the funding of both primary and post primary schools are a clear demonstration of my commitment to prioritise available resources to address the needs of schools. Increases in general day-to-day funding are, in my view, a preferable approach to putting in place grants for specific cost items such as that referred to by the Deputy.

Of course, as well as providing for significant increases in the grants paid to all schools, I am very conscious of the need for extra funding for schools serving disadvantaged areas. As the Deputy will be aware, we continue to provide extra grants to schools benefiting from schemes aimed at tackling disadvantage.

Under the new action plan for tackling disadvantage — the DEIS programme — which is currently being rolled out, additional funding is being provided to the most disadvantaged schools.

The total amount that will be paid to schools participating in DEIS and those getting funding under other initiatives to tackle disadvantage will be over €17 million this year. Taken together with the increase in capitation payments in recent years, I believe that this has improved the financial position of our disadvantaged schools.

However, I will, as always bear in mind the cost pressures on our schools in assessing the rate of capitation that should be paid in 2007. This Government has shown a strong commitment to improving school funding in recent years and I will continue to prioritise this area.