Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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244. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of the capitation rates for schools under the delivering equality of opportunity in schools scheme, for education and training boards, community and comprehensive schools and for schools in the voluntary sector; the reason for the wide variation in these rates, given that their students come from similar socioeconomic backgrounds and have similar needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26503/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The funding arrangements made by my Department for post primary 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 ETB sector financial allocations are made to ETBs as part of a block grant. ETBs 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. Fee charging schools do not receive any capitation or related grants from my Department.

In addition, all schools participating in the DEIS programme receive additional funding by way of a DEIS Grant. This grant is based on each school's individual level of disadvantage in the DEIS identification process.