Written answers

Tuesday, 24 April 2007

Department of Education and Science

School Management

11:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 822: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she or her Department has received further 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. [14328/07]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that my Department has received further correspondence from the Board of Management of the school referred to by the Deputy. The position is that voluntary contributions by parents of pupils in recognised primary schools are permissible provided 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. The manner in which such voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management, however their collection should be such as not to create a situation where either parents or pupils could reasonably infer that the contributions take on a compulsory character.

Primary schools' running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of schools which would include heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, painting, teaching aids and other miscellaneous charges.

The primary school capitation grant has been increased substantially in recent years. Since 1997 the standard rate of capitation grant has been increased from €57.14 per pupil to €163.58 with effect from 1st January, 2007. This represents an increase of over 186% in the standard rate of capitation grant since 1997.

Furthermore enhanced rates of capitation funding are paid in respect of children with special educational needs who attend special schools or special classes attached to mainstream schools. The current rates range from €400 to €805 per pupil. These were increased by an average of 30% recently.

The capitation 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 the scheme was increased from €102 per pupil in 2002 to the current rate of €145.50 per pupil. I believe that major increases must continue to be provided in the rate of both the capitation and ancillary services grants in the coming years.

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