Written answers

Thursday, 14 May 2009

Department of Education and Science

Departmental Funding

5:00 am

Photo of Arthur MorganArthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether schools will be required to apply more pressure on parents to partake in fund-raising activities as a result of budget cutbacks. [19225/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding to primary and post-primary 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.

The standard rate of capitation grant at primary level increased by €21 in the October budget to €200 per pupil, backdated to 1 September, 2008. This represents an increase of 146% in the standard rate of capitation grant since 2000, when the rate was €81.26. The Budget 2009 improvements involved an increase of more than €21 per pupil; the ancillary services grant for primary schools was also improved by €3.50 to €155 per pupil.

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 200 pupils in receipt of €5,000 more. In 2000, a primary school with 200 pupils was in receipt of less than €27,000 to meet its day to day running costs. That same school under these new rates will receive €71,000. This excludes the salary of teachers and Special Needs Assistants which are paid by my Department.

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.

At second level, 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.

My Department has provided an estimated €18.4 million per annum in equalisation funding to date.

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.

While many schools supplement their income by organising fund-raising activities among parents, it is important to acknowledge the increase in State funding that has been made available to schools, and which continues to be made available.

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. While increasing resources is important, we must also focus on measures to enhance the quality of education in our schools to ensure that increased resources lead to the best possible outcomes for our children.

We are committed to investing in education but we have to invest at a level that is consistent with what we can afford and what is sustainable at the moment given economic circumstances. I am confident that as the global economy improves it will be possible to build again on the significant achievements of recent years and do so in a manner consistent with overall prudent management of the Irish economy.

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