Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

136. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the significant drop in fundraising support for schools as a result of Covid-19; the specific measures available in the Roadmap for the Return to Schools or Budget 2021 to address this funding shortage for schools that have been unable to fundraise; her plans to ensure no school is reliant on future fundraising activity for basic educational resources such as book rentals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31866/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department published the report "Reopening Our Schools, The Roadmap for the Full Return to School" in late July along with details of a significant financial package to support the implementation of the measures in the roadmap, following approval by the Government. The package of supports is expected to cost in excess of €437 million in the 2020/2021 school year.

The range of supports being made available to schools includes additional financial supports to provide for additional staffing, management supports, enhanced cleaning, hand hygiene and personal protective equipment costs under the Covid-19 response plans. The Government also approved a package of minor works grants as part of the July Stimulus to support schools to prepare their buildings and classrooms for reopening.

My Department provides funding to support the day to day running costs of schools through capitation and ancillary funding and this funding is continuing to be made available in line with normal arrangements.

Furthermore, I am pleased to have been able to provide for a further 2.5% increase in standard capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools that applied from the start of the 2020/21 school year. This builds on last year’s 5% increase in capitation announced in budget 2019. The combined increases given in 2019 and 2020 mean that circa 40% restoration will be achieved. All schools have received the benefit of the capitation increases awarded to date and it is my intention to seek funding for further capitation increases in future budgets.

My Department provides a book grant to all recognised primary and post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books including Book Rental Schemes.

Under this scheme, my Department provided funding of €16.9 million in 2019 to all of these schools. 

It is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school to decide on its own policy in relation to the use of this funding in the school but they are expected to adopt a cost-conscious approach to the selection of books for use in their classes. The current arrangement relies on the local knowledge of the school in order to ensure a fair allocation of funds to those most in need.