Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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128. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the level of funding provided by his Department to the NAPD; if schools are allowed to fund their principal's membership of the organisation from voluntary contributions paid by parents to the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11718/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The National Association for Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) is a recognised representative body for Principals and Deputy Principals at post-primary level. It is therefore permissible for a school to pay a subscription fee to it from state funds or from another source which may include voluntary contributions paid by parents. The source of funding and the decision to fund a principal's membership of the NAPD is decided at the discretion of the board of management of each individual school.

Funding provided by my Department to the NAPD relates to a non-recoupable secondment in respect of the position of Director and funding in respect of the provision by NAPD of supports, training & seminars for principals and deputy principals, including newly appointed principals and deputy principals. The NAPD works in collaboration with the Professional Development Service for Teachers to provide leadership programmes and continuous professional development opportunities. The funding given to the NAPD supports my Departments national priorities in the areas of Literacy & Numeracy and Leadership for schools. My Department also co funds with the Department of Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht an annual grant to fund a specific Creative Arts project run by the NAPD. The total funding paid by my Department in this regard in 2013 was approximately €348,000.