Written answers

Thursday, 10 November 2011

Department of Education and Skills

Departmental Expenditure

5:00 pm

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total level of funding to be provided this year to fee paying second level schools, itemising current and capital expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33931/11]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy may be aware, there are 55 fee-charging schools in the State. Fee-charging schools do not receive capitation grants or related supports.

The only current funding provided to fee-charging schools by my Department in 2011 is the Assistive Technology grant for students with particular special educational needs. Almost €16,000 was paid to fee-charging schools in respect of this grant to date this year (as at 9 November 2011).

The total amount of capital funding provided to fee-charging schools this year, up to 9 November, is €1.9m. It must be noted that this is less than 0.4% of the entire 491m capital budget for education in 2011.

In addition to this funding, teachers employed within the approved annual staffing allocation granted by my Department in fee-charging schools are paid by the State; an arrangement that pre-dates the introduction of free education arrangements and which has existed since the foundation of the state. The estimated cost of these posts in 2011 is in the order of €100m. I am already on record as saying that this is not a simple matter as these arrangements, which are historic and of long standing, impact upon a substantial number of schools which cater for religious minorities.

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