George Lee (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the names and addresses of the non-fee paying schools here; the number of pupils enrolled in each; the amount of funding each school receives from the Exchequer; the purpose of that funding; the cost of teachers salaries in each school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41677/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the information requested by the Deputy relates to post-primary schools only and that the Deputy does not require information on teacher salaries for individual schools. I wish to advise the Deputy that the names, addresses and enrolment details for all second level schools in the 2008/09 school year are available on my Department's website, under the Education Provider Search. The funding arrangements at post-primary level 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 in line with 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. The total grant to the VEC sector in 2008 amounted to €933.3 million. This comprised of €756.625 million for pay and €176.6 million for non-pay. Teachers' salaries accounted for approximately 83% of pay costs. The total grant to the Community and Comprehensive sector in 2008 amounted to €47.4 million. This comprised of €29.3 million for non-pay and €18.1 million for C&C Non-Teaching-pay. Teachers' Salaries in the Community and Comprehensive sector and in voluntary secondary schools are paid by my Department and are set out in the attached table.

Grants provided to second level schools and VECs in 2008 are outlined in the attached table.