Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the measures he will take to improve the ranking of Ireland as 27th out of 29 OECD countries when it comes to the amount of GDP [i]per capita [/i]spent on each second-level student; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38006/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The recent OECD Education at a Glance report shows that the Irish education system is performing strongly and that the outcomes achieved are significant when compared with our OECD and EU counterparts.

The report shows that, between 2000 and 2005, in real terms (allowing for inflation), total public and private spending increased by 52% at primary, second and further education levels. Expenditure per student at all levels below higher level increased in real terms by 47% between 2000 and 2005, compared to 19% on average across the OECD.

Expenditure on education has continued to increase since 2005 — the reference year for this report. In 2008, the Government provided over €690 million more for Education in the Estimates, with a total allocation of over €9.3 billion. €3.2 billion was spent on second-level education in 2007, the most recent year for which full figures have been compiled for the second-level sector. This spending was up from €2.9 billion in 2005 and €1.9 billion in 1998.

The Deputy should note that, as published in the recent budget, the total funds allocated for second level and further education grants and services in 2009 have been increased by 3% on the 2008 estimates figure. This increase has been achieved despite the prevailing difficult economic climate.

Increases provided by this Government in recent years have allowed for major progress to be made both in the day-to-day funding and staffing of our schools. Since 2005 second-level schools have benefited from substantial increases in funding for their day-to-day costs. The standard capitation grant, which stood at €286 per pupil in 2005, is now €331 per pupil, and the support services grant for secondary schools has been increased from €145 per pupil in 2005 to €204 per pupil in 2008.

The Deputy is also reminded of my recent announcement, made in the context of the 2009 estimates, that from 1 January 2009 the standard per capita grant at second level will be increased by a further €14 to €345 per pupil, a 21% increase on the 2005 figure. In addition, up to €40,000 per school is also provided by my Department to secondary schools towards secretarial and caretaking services.

The Deputy should also note that significant improvements have been made in the pupil teacher ratio at post primary level in recent years. The actual pupil teacher ratio at second level (i.e. the total number of pupils in the system divided by the total number of teachers in the system) fell from 16:1 in the 1996/97 school year to 13.13:1 in the 2006/07 school year.

The provisions that I have made, in the context of the 2009 estimates, for an increase in the funding of second level schools is a clear demonstration of my commitment, despite a challenging economic environment, to prioritise available resources to address the needs of schools.