Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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360. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason special schools are subject to increasing insurance premiums; and the steps he will take in this regard. [24797/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The two main grants provided by my Department are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and an Ancillary Services grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools are permitted to regard the Capitation and Ancillary grants as a combined grant.

In addition, enhanced payments are made for all students attending special schools and special classes. The rates vary, depending on the particular category of disability.

Responsibility for procurement of insurance and payment of same rests with Board of Management in respect of schools operated by them. If a particular school has a query in relation to the cost of insurance it should raise this directly with its insurance provider. Boards of Management should take a proactive approach when it comes to sourcing insurance in order to ensure best value is obtained and to ensure compliance with public procurement procedures. Schools Procurement Unit which has a national remit is available to advise and assist schools in relation to procurement matters.

Issues relating specifically to insurance costs in special schools were brought to my attention, through correspondence received from a number of special schools and through discussions with the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education (NABMSE) .

I am advised that general increases in costs this year were due, in some instances, to an annual increase in insurance costs generally and in some cases, an increase in claims against special schools.

Separately, a number of special schools under the patronage of organisations that are funded by the HSE to provide health and personal social services on behalf of the HSE under Section 38 of the Health Act, experienced increased insurance quotes, when the funded bodies were delegated to the General Indemnity Scheme (GIS) under the State Claims Agency.

The effect of the delegation was that the special schools under their patronage needed to seek separate insurance cover.

Officials from my Department have been working with the State Claims Agency, in recent months, to seek a resolution to this issue. General agreement has been reached and work is underway to determine whether the special schools directly affected can be included under the General Indemnity Scheme.