Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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550. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of reversing cuts to the capitation grants for primary and post primary schools; her plans to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26268/15]

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. 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.

The school funding measures introduced in Budget 2011 provided for a 5% reduction in funding for capitation and related grants to primary and second level schools. This was applied to schools by a 5% reduction across the range of per capita grants.

The multi annual school funding measures introduced in Budget 2012, provided for a 6% overall reduction in the funding for capitation and related grants to primary and second level schools. The reduction was introduced on a phased basis and applied by a 2% reduction in 2012 and 2013 and a further reduction of 1% in 2014 and 2015.

In total these measures have resulted in capitation and related funding to the primary and second level school sector being reduced by 11%. Increasing overall funding at present would cost approx. €3.7m per percentage point.

I do recognise the need to improve capitation funding for primary schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years. In the last Budget, I was able to secure the first increase in education spending in recent years. I am determined to continue pressing the case for increased investment in education in the forthcoming budget.