John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 488: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his plans to increase the level of the capitation grant for primary and secondary schools; if his attention has been drawn to the inadequacy of the grant in meeting day to day expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33606/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The scope for any increases in the capitation grant for primary or post-primary schools has to be considered in the context of Government budgetary policy and the overall economic climate.

My Department is aware of the funding pressures on schools. However, progress has been made in recent years that has seen the primary school capitation grant increased from €81.26 per pupil in 2000 to its current rate of €178.58. This represents an increase of almost 120% in the standard rate of capitation grant since 2000. The compares to a cumulative increase in the Consumer Price Index between 2000 and the end of 2007 of about 30%.

In 2008 alone the Department has paid around €167m to primary schools to meet their day to day running costs. The improvements mean that the combined day-to-day funding for primary schools has increased by €21 to €330 per pupil. As a result, a primary school with 300 pupils will receive almost €100,000 to meet their running costs.

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 €457 to €880 per pupil — an increase of 42% from the rate in 2006. The funding arrangements made by my Department for second level schools reflect the sectoral division of our second level system. At the core of all arrangements is a reliance upon capitation as the principal determinant of funding.

There have been significant improvements in recent years in the level of funding for voluntary secondary schools. With effect from January 2008, the standard per capita grant was increased by €15 per pupil and now amounts to €331 per pupil. In addition, voluntary secondary schools have benefited by the increase of €15 per pupil in 2008 in the support services grant bringing that grant to €204 per pupil.

The cumulative increase of €30 per pupil in a voluntary secondary school brings the aggregate grant to €535 per pupil. These grants are in addition to the per capita funding of up to €40,000 per school that is also provided by my Department to secondary schools towards secretarial and caretaking services. For example in the case of a secondary school with 500 pupils, this brings annual grants towards general expenses and support service to over €300,000.

Budget allocations for schools in the Community and Comprehensive school sector along with those in the VEC sector are increased on a pro rata basis with increases in the per capita grant. All schools are eligible for recurrent per capita grants towards special classes and curricular support grants.

These significant increases in funding are a clear demonstration of my commitment to prioritise available resources to address the needs of schools.