Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 440: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will support a matter (details supplied). [18830/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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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 reliance upon capitation as the principal determinant of funding. My Department provides funding to secondary schools by way of per capita grants, which affords schools considerable flexibility in the use of these resources to cater for the needs of their pupils.

There have been significant improvements in recent years in the level of funding for voluntary secondary schools. With effect from January 2009, the standard per capita grant was increased by €14 per pupil and now amounts to €345 per pupil. In addition, voluntary secondary schools have benefited by the increase of €8 per pupil in 2009 in the support services grant bringing that grant to €212 per pupil.

The cumulative increase of €22 per pupil in a voluntary secondary school brings the aggregate grant to €557 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 €318,500. The corresponding figure in 2000 was approximately €147,300.

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 that corresponds to increases in the per capita grant paid to voluntary secondary schools. All schools are eligible for recurrent per capita grants towards special classes and curricular support grants. My Department has provided an estimated €18.4 million per annum in equalisation funding to date.

These significant increases in the funding of post-primary schools are a clear demonstration of my commitment to prioritise available resources to address the needs of schools. I will consider how best to complete the process of equalisation of funding at second level, as envisaged in the Programme for Government 2007-2012, having regard to available resources.

With regard to fee-paying schools, teachers' salaries in all fee-charging schools are paid by the State; this arrangement pre-dated the introduction of free education arrangements. In the absence of fee-paying schools and the enrolment of all pupils in the non-fee paying sector, there would be subsequent additional costs to the State, and teachers would still have to be paid. In Budget 2009, the Government has, however, decided to make changes to how fee-charging schools should be treated in relation to the number of publicly funded teaching posts they are allocated. Teachers in fee-charging schools are now allocated at a pupil teacher ratio of 20 to one, which is a point higher than allocations in non fee-charging post-primary schools. Fee-charging schools can continue to employ additional teachers that they fund from their fee income.

While education remains a priority for the Government, a fact emphasised by the increases in capitation grants as already outlined, it was necessary to curtail expenditure in some areas in Budget 2009. One such area is the transition year grant which was abolished with effect from 1 January 2009. Savings of approximately €2.55 million are expected to accrue as a result of its abolition.

The Government acknowledges that savings in the public service pay bill must contribute to the overall strategy for correcting the major imbalances in the Exchequer finances. This is reflected in the recent Government decision to implement a recruitment and promotion moratorium across the civil and public service with effect from 27th March, 2009.