Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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149. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has given consideration to providing funding and grants to schools in one payment either in January or at the start of the school term (details supplied). [42909/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware my Department issues grants to schools in instalments throughout the school year. Good budgeting by Boards of Management should ensure that funding and grants received during the year are managed to cater for costs arising throughout the school year.

A change in these arrangements would not result in an overall increase in funding to schools.

However, given that my Department’s funding from the Exchequer operates on a calendar year basis, there would be an additional cost associated with a change in the instalment arrangements. There is no capacity within current budgets to manage such a change.