Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 670: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has responded to the joint letter, of 29 February 2008, from the five primary school patron organisations outlining the crisis in financing the 3,300 primary schools; if she will meet the five patron organisations and discuss the way the financial crisis can be resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12290/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that I have responded to the joint letter from the five school patron organisations regarding primary school funding. This issue also features as part of my regular contact and discussions with the education partners.

I want to assure the Deputy that the Government is fully aware of the funding pressures on schools. We are committed to doubling the primary capitation grant by 2012 and to significantly increasing the value of the ancillary services grant that is used by schools for the employment of support staff such as caretakers and secretaries. These commitments are a direct follow-on from the clear thrust of Government policy over recent years to improve the position of primary schools in particular.

Since 2001, the standard rate of primary capitation grant has been increased by 86%. In the same period, the value of the ancillary services grant has been almost doubled. In 2001, a primary school with 300 pupils was in receipt of less than €52,000 to meet its day to day running costs. That same school today is receiving almost €100,000. This excludes the salary of teachers and Special Needs Assistants which are paid by the Department. By any standards this is a very significant improvement within a relatively short period of time.

In 2008, primary schools are getting €330 per pupil in such grants — €21 more per child than they got last year. At a national level, this adds up to an investment of around €167 million in standard day-to-day funding for schools. In addition to this, 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.

Extra funding is also being targeted at schools serving disadvantaged communities. Indeed, funding for additional grants for the most disadvantaged schools increased by 15% this year, reflecting the Government's determination to prioritise those that need extra resources the most.

While we continue to make real progress we must also be aware of the changing global economic environment. There is a need for careful management of the public finances in order to protect Ireland's prosperity in the period of slower (albeit still good) levels of economic growth. This prudent approach is the best way of ensuring that funding improvements for our schools can be sustained into the future. In the current economic environment, an extra €690m in 2008 for the education sector was a real achievement and evidence of this Government's continuing commitment to prioritising education.

I do not for a moment suggest that there isn't a need for additional increases in funding for schools. The legitimacy of the case for further increases is expressly recognised in the Programme for Government commitments. I am confident that over the course of this Government's term of office that it will be possible to build on the significant achievements of recent years and to do so in a manner consistent with overall prudent management of the Irish economy.