Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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176. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the budget allocation for ETB schools in each of the years 2013 to 2017. [41376/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Education and Training Board (ETB) schools are not funded directly by my Department but are funded via budget allocations provided on a block grant basis to each ETB.  ETBs are responsible for allocating funding between schools under their respective remits.  ETBs are afforded considerable flexibility in the use of resources while having a responsibility to ensure that value is obtained from the funding provided.

The figures outlined in the table include funding for the pay of certain ETB staff provided by my Department, funding for the day-to-day running of schools, specific grants (e.g. book grant, transition year programme), targeted expenditure (e.g. DEIS funding), funding for student grants, funding for capital projects (which can vary from year to year depending on number of projects) and also ETB head office running costs.

The initial allocation figure for 2017 is €1.311 billion. This figure is subject to change as the year evolves.

It should be noted that ETBs also receive funding from sources other than my Department, for example through self-financing programmes or from other Departments and agencies, most notably for further education and training which is funded by SOLAS.

The annual accounts for each ETB provide detailed information on funding from all sources and how it was used. These accounts, when finalised and audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General, are published on the Oireachtas website.

Funding to ETBs for the Period July 2013 to 2016 including Allocation for 2017*

* payments made in respect of Standard Expenditure (Net Pay & Net Non-Pay), Associated & Targeted Expenditure (grants), Programme Expenditure (Further & Adult Education, Student Support Services, Self-financing Projects, Capital)

** payments made in respect of Standard Expenditure (Net Pay & Net Non-Pay), Associated & Targeted Expenditure (grants), Programme Expenditure (Student Support Services, Self-financing Projects, Capital) - Funding in respect of Further & Adult Education not included as this funding is administered through SOLAS with effect from 2014