Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide extra funding to help a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10068/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The school to which the Deputy refers is a recognised national school and attracts funding from my Department in the same way as all other national schools.

All recognised national schools running costs are met by my Departments schemes of capitation and ancillary service grants. Schools receive capitation funding in January and June, and the ancillary services grant in March.

The amount paid to an individual national school by way of capitation and ancillary services grants is determined by the school's enrolment, subject to a minimum grant in respect of schools with enrolments up to 60 and a maximum grant in the case of schools of 500 or more.

The Deputy may wish to note that Circular 40/2009 clarifies issues relating to the allocation of funding for primary schools. The circular states that capitation funding provided for general running costs and funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.

In due course, both grant schemes will be merged. In the interim, both grants will continue to be paid according to existing timelines and calculated separately as heretofore.