Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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477. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular format, the current capitation rate in primary and secondary schools, in schools under the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools programme and in special schools for the past ten years; the cost of increasing or restoring the capitation rate to each of these; her future plans in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17503/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department provides capitation funding to all recognised primary schools and second level schools within the free education scheme.

My Department provides capitation funding to mainstream primary schools by way of per capita grants, subject to a minimum grant equivalent to 60 pupils. Enhanced rates are payable to Special Schools and Special Classes attached to mainstream schools.

The funding arrangements made by my Department for second level 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.

DEIS capitation is paid based on a school's relative level of disadvantage against all other schools.

Fee charging schools do not receive any capitation or related grants from my Department.

The table contains a breakdown of the annual per capita grant rates as requested by the Deputy.

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.

Voluntary Sector Post Primary Capitation Rates 2005-2015

Primary Capitation Rates 2005-2015