Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

173. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the capitation levels per pupil to primary schools and to post primary schools; and the estimated cost of restoring capitation levels for both to pre 2010 levels. [30940/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Currently, the capitation grant is €170 per pupil at primary level and €296 per pupil at post-primary level.

The estimated cost of restoring capitation grants in primary and post-primary schools to pre 2010 levels is circa €35m.

I do recognise the need to improve capitation funding for primary schools having regard to the aforementioned reductions.

The Action Plan for Education outlines hundreds of actions to be implemented over the 3 year period 2016 to 2019 which include restoring capitation funding as resources permit.

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.

In relation to capitation funding this commitment remains a priority for me to address during the lifetime of the Action Plan.