Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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158. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to review the overall funding for children in education and to increase the capitation rates per school to take account of the increased costs that are facing parents and boards of management; her plans to put a funding mechanism in place to cover other activities in schools such as art, swimming, and information and communications technology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16085/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The last Budget included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60m during 2015. As I have mentioned in response to earlier questions, that increase has provided funding for 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs to be recruited for our schools, as well as funding important reforms. However, it was not possible to secure the funding which would be required to also increase the rates of capitation paid to our schools.

Capitation funding for general running expenses 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.

There is no specific funding provided for items such as art and swimming. I have no scope to introduce new additional funding measures to assist schools, such as those referred to by the Deputy.

My Department is committed to the implementation of a new digital strategy for schools which will focus on enhancing teaching and learning through the use of ICT in the classroom, the provision of funding to schools will be considered in this context.

I am determined that education will be prioritised for further investment in future years, and I believe that increasing the staffing and funding of our schools should be priorities for such investment.