Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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478. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of requests for PPE she has received from primary and post-primary schools respectively since 1 December 2020. [1137/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Government published the Roadmap for the Full Return to School, along with details of a financial package of over €375 million to support the implementation of the measures in the roadmap, following approval by Government.

The range of supports being made available to schools include additional financial supports to provide for PPE and hand hygiene costs under the COVID-19 response plans.

Schools are automatically paid the PPE grant by my Department based on pupil enrolment and the per capita rates which are provided in the table below.  There is no application process. 

The first instalment of the PPE grant, which issued in August 2020, reflected the fact that the first term is 15% longer than the second there were a number of once off type costs which schools faced at that time. Therefore the rates for the second instalment of the PPE grant, which issued on 6 January last, have been revised accordingly.

My Department will be reviewing the funding provided and following this review details of the third and final instalment of these grants for the 2020/2021 school year will be made available in due course. 

PPE grant rates for mainstream schools