Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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394. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a request for additional funding (details supplied) will be given urgent consideration in view of the fact the present reduced allocation for 2017 is not adequate to meet ongoing financial commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14209/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I understand the Deputy is referring to the non-pay allocation within the entity. With regard to the current year funding (2017) and the non-pay allocation for the entity in question this has been calculated taking into account student enrolment numbers and head office costs. The 2017 initial allocation is higher than the initial 2016 allocation by over €150,000. As enrolments in the entity in question have remained static, the overall grant has reduced slightly on the 2012 levels.  

The Deputy might wish to note that the improvements in the economy have now started to result in some improvements in the funding levels for the sector of which this entity is a part. The first steps in this regard was additional funding that was provided to this sector in 2015 and 2016; the entity in question received additional funding in the amount of €443,000 towards the end of 2016.

Any further improvements for the sector will be considered as part of the annual budgetary process.