Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

334. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the way in which post-primary schools in County Leitrim are funded; the top-up, if any, that applies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37339/17]

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

The funding arrangements made by my Department for post-primary schools, including schools in Co Leitrim, 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 voluntary secondary schools by way of per capitagrants.  Funding is provided to Community and Comprehensive schools on a budget basis that is based mainly on student numbers, but also takes into account additional factors which vary from school to school such as condition of buildings, size of school etc.

With regard to the Education and Training Board (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 ETB is allowed to distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and perceptions of need.

The salaries of Teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) employed in Voluntary Secondary, Community and Comprehensive schools are paid through payrolls that are centrally operated by my Department.  In the case of the ETB Sector my Department provides grants to each ETB to pay its teachers and SNAs.

Other financial supports are given to post-primary schools such as grants towards the cost of employing ancillary staff, ICT Infrastructure, Programme Grants, Capital projects, etc.

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

335. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the annual budget for a post-primary school (details supplied) in County Leitrim, in particular, special needs funding and its specific purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37340/17]

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

The school referred to by the Deputy is an ETB school.

ETB schools are not funded directly by my Department but are funded via budget allocations provided to each ETB.  ETBs are responsible for allocating funding to each of the schools under their remit.

Each Education and Training Board (ETB), including the ETB of the school concerned, has a responsibility to ensure that maximum value is obtained from the funding provided to them. ETBs are afforded considerable flexibility in the use of resources to meet the needs of individual schemes. Current funding payments are made to ETBs as part of a block grant that also covers ETB overheads and other activities apart from the second-level programme.

Separate to the block grant funding and with regards to special needs funding there are two relevant grants; the Special Class Grant and an Assistive Technology Grant.

With regard to the Special Class Grant, enhanced capitation payments are made for all students attending special classes in mainstream schools and is issued from the ETB Non Pay subhead.

Students enrolled in special classes must have a formal assessment of disability. Special class sizes are based on the pupil-teacher ratios as recommended in the SERC Report 1993 ranging from 11:1 to 6:1.  The enhanced capitation grant for Special Classes is provided to the ETB for the approved students and the ETB in-turn disburse the grant to the schools. The approved numbers apply on a school by school basis and are not transferable to other schools within the ETB.

With regards to the Assistive Technology grant, the purpose of the Assistive Technology scheme is to provide grant-aid to schools to allow them to purchase the type of specialist equipment which has been recommended by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) as being essential for pupils who have been diagnosed as:

(i) having a serious physical disability

(ii) and/or sensory or communicative disability to the extent that their ability to communicate through the medium of speech or writing is materially curtailed

(iii) where it is clear that existing equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs without unduly depriving other children of access to the equipment.

(iv) where without such equipment it will not be possible for such children to access the school curriculum.

Where a school is under a particular ETB, payment is made directly to the ETB in question who will then forward the payment to the relevant school.

If the Deputy requires further information the ETB may be contacted directly for further details.