Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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850. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the most recent cuts to school budgets, which have resulted in principals in County Wicklow indicating they may not be able to heat their schools for every day of term over the winter months, the advice her Department is offering to schools facing this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40985/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department provides capitation funding to all recognised primary schools.

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

In 2015 the capitation grant will amount to €170 per pupil, a reduction of €3. The Ancillary Services Grant remains unchanged at €147 per pupil.

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.

This Government has sought to protect education spending and maintain frontline education services as far as possible.

However, levels of educational expenditure cannot be determined in a manner that ignores the economic reality. Consequently there is no scope to reverse the decision to reduce the level of capitation payable in 2015.