Written answers

Tuesday, 6 October 2009

Department of Education and Science

School Hygiene

9:00 pm

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1112: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the finance of some primary schools is so precarious that they can no longer afford paper towels in the children's toilets or hand cleaning dispensers and are requesting parents to send hand towels in with their children; and the steps he is taking to help primary schools in particular to combat the spread of swine flu through the school population. [33074/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy may be referring to advice which my Department sent to schools in Circular 47/09, sent to all primary and post-primary schools in August, which advised schools on how they could source information on and respond to the pandemic flu.

My Department has been communicating public health advice from the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health and Children to the education sector. My officials are engaging with the management bodies of schools so that they can provide the most relevant information to schools that address any sector specific issues. This public health information is guiding schools to update their plans to encourage and facilitate everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of this pandemic flu, and be able to respond to symptoms and cases of this flu.

Specifically in relation to hand hygiene, the advice available to my Department is that students/staff should wash their hands with soap and water. Hand-drying facilities must not be shared between people. Therefore, the type of hand drying facilities that can be used include paper towels, which are disposed of into waste bins, hot air hand dryers, roller towels, or students and staff members could be asked to bring in and use their own individual towels.

On the general issue of funding for schools, I wish to assure the Deputy that the education budget for 2009 provided for improvements to the overall level of day-to-day funding for primary schools, which has seen funding increase from €167 million in 2008 to almost €190 million in 2009.

This builds on the progress 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, representing an increase of 146% in the standard rate of capitation grant since 2000.

The primary capitation grant has been improved by more than €21 to bring the rate to €200 per pupil, while the ancillary services grant for primary schools has increased 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 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. Under these new rates, that primary school will receive €106,500. This excludes the salary of teachers and Special Needs Assistants, which are paid by my 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, these 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. However, 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.

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