Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on implementing variable school capitation rates which reflect the annual maintenance and running costs of schools. [44977/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department provides capitation funding to all recognised primary schools and post primary schools within the free education scheme. My Department provide funding to primary schools by way of per capita grants, subject to a minimum grant equivalent to 60 pupils and a maximum grant equivalent to 500 pupils. The funding arrangements made by my Department for post primary schools 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 Community and Comprehensive schools on a budget basis that is based mainly on pupil numbers, but also take into account additional factors which vary from school to school such as age of buildings, size of school etc.

With regard to the VEC sector financial allocations are made to VECs as part of a block grant. VECs are given a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of this grant and each is allowed to distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and perceptions of need. My Department provides funding to voluntary secondary schools by way of per capita grants. The Deputy may wish to note that Circular 48/2009 clarifies issues relating to the allocation of funding to voluntary secondary 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 which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities. I have no plans to amend the present capitation funding arrangements.