Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 484: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the capitation and ancillary grants payable to primary schools (details supplied) for 2008; and the capitation and ancillary grants payable to these schools in 2009 based on budget 2009 and assuming pupil numbers do not change. [37964/08]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 485: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the purpose of the capitation and ancillary grants to schools. [37965/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 and 485 together.

The specific information sought by the Deputy is not readily available within my Department and would involve an inordinate amount of administrative time to compile.

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 Ancillary Services grant provides additional funding for primary schools towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services.

The Education Budget for 2009 has provided for improvements to the overall level of day to day funding for primary schools which will see funding increase from €167 million in 2008 to almost €190 million in 2009.

The primary capitation grant has been improved by more than €21 to bring the rate to €200 per pupil and the ancillary services grant for primary schools will also be improved by €3.50 to €155 per pupil.

This builds on the 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 €200. This represents an increase of 146% in the standard rate of capitation grant since 2000.

Taken together, these increases mean that primary schools eligible for the full ancillary services grant will get €355 per pupil — or almost €25 extra — in this school year to cover their day to day running costs, with a primary school of 300 pupils getting €7,475 more. In 2000, a primary school with 300 pupils was in receipt of less than €40,000 to meet its day to day running costs. That same school under these new rates will receive €106,500. This excludes the salary of teachers and Special Needs Assistants which are paid by the Department.

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 €512 to €986 per pupil — an increase of 59% from the rate in 2006.

By any standards there have been very significant improvements within a relatively short period of time and the Government is committed to further increasing funding for schools as resources permit.