Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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49. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the capitation grant for schools will be fully restored in line with the action plan for education 2016-2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30057/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I do recognise the need to improve capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years.  Budget 2017 represents the start of a major programme of reinvestment in education, and the first phase of implementation of the Action Plan for Education, aimed at becoming the best education system in Europe within a decade.

The Action Plan outlines hundreds of actions to be implemented over the 3 year period 2016 to 2019.  One of the actions as part of the plan is to strengthen the focus on reducing school costs for parents.  The plan also integrates with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to increase capitation funding and to set out capitation rates to schools on a rolling 3-year basis, allowing for forward planning by schools.

It was not possible to provide additional funding in Budget 2017 in relation to this element of the Action Plan due to the many competing demands for the available funding.  However, this commitment remains a priority for me to address during the lifetime of the Action Plan.

I am determined to continue pressing the case for increased investment including grant funding in education.