Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 482: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she or her Department has received correspondence from the board of management of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare in relation to parents subsidising the running costs of the school; her plans to assist in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8535/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that I have recently received correspondence on this issue from the Board of Management of the school referred to by the Deputy and a response will issue shortly to the board from my Department.

Primary schools' running costs have been traditionally met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants which are the main source of funding for the running costs of primary schools. The scheme of funding is flexible in nature and affords Boards of Management discretion as to how the funding is used in meeting schools' day-to-day running costs. This has proved to be the most effective way of funding primary schools running costs to date.

Capitation grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of national schools. The standard rate of capitation grant will have increased from €57.14 in 1997 to €163.58 with effect from 1st January, 2007. This represents an increase of 186% over the period and should be of assistance to all primary schools in meeting their day-to-day running costs.

Funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services in new primary schools is provided under the Ancillary Services grant scheme. The standard rate of grant per pupil under the scheme was increased from €102 in 2002 to €145.50 per pupil with effect from 1st January 2007.

The amount of grant paid to an individual school under both the capitation and ancillary services grant scheme is determined by the enrolment in the school, subject to a minimum grant in the case of a school with 60 pupils or less. This however, does not preclude voluntary contributions by parents of pupils where schools choose to seek such voluntary contribution support particular activities. However, voluntary contributions by parents, or charges for optional extras over and above what is provided for in the general school programme, are only permissible provided that it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition.

This Government has shown a strong commitment to improving school funding in recent years and I will continue to prioritise this area in the context of available resources.