Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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1005. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department makes any allowance in the budget provision for a school (details supplied) which has to operate across two separate sites. [30011/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Funding for all recognised primary schools in the free education scheme is dealt with on a per capita basis.

The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc., and the ancillary services grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff.

The school referred to by the Deputy will receive €158,420 in respect of capitation funding in 2022, €81,435 for Capitation and €76,985 for Ancillary Services.

Schools are permitted to regard the capitation and ancillary services grants as a combined grant and Boards of Management have autonomy on how they use and prioritise this funding to meet their day to day running costs, including for the provision of secretarial and caretaker services

There is no provision for additional payments outside of those outlined above.

The Minor Works Grant is capital funding provided each school year to all Primary schools in the free scheme which provides good flexibility to address issues at local school level. Given that each school setting is different, individual schools are best placed to decide how best to use this funding to address their particular needs.

The works that can be undertaken under minor works scheme include maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds, improvement or replacement of mechanical and electrical services, the purchase of standard furniture and physical education equipment, the purchase of floor coverings and window blinds, the purchase of IT related equipment, ventilation improvements, and enhancements to outdoor learning environments.

It is open to the school to make an application under the Summer Works Scheme. The purpose of the Summer Works Scheme is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works which, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school.

It is also open to the school to make an application under the Emergency Works Scheme in emergency situations.

The Emergency Works Scheme ensures the availability of funding for urgent works to schools that need resources as a result of an emergency situation, or to cater for special needs pupils who have enrolled.

An emergency is a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, that happens in sudden, unforeseen circumstances and requires immediate action, and if not corrected, would prevent the school, or part of it, from opening.