Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

182. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the 40% cut to funding for PPE for schools that was communicated to schools in the past month has been or will be reversed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3087/21]

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

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 all schools in the free education scheme include additional financial supports to provide for PPE and hand hygiene costs under the COVID-19 response plans.

Schools are paid the PPE grant by my Department based on pupil enrolment and the per capita rates which are provided in the table attached.

I would like to assure the Deputy that the revised per capita rates for PPE paid in respect of the second term does not represent a cut in funding. The first instalment of the PPE grant, which issued in August 2020, reflected the fact that the first term was approximately 25% longer than the second and there were a number of once off type costs such as the installation of dispensing stations, bins etc. which schools faced at that time. Therefore the rates for the second instalment of the PPE grant, which issued on 6^thJanuary last, have been revised accordingly.

PPE grant rates for mainstream schools

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.