Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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618. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the specific budgetary measures which she has put in place to provide for the increased energy costs for recognised schools in the free education scheme for the autumn and winter 2022/2023 school term; if she accepts that the additional capitation funding in 2022 is not sufficient to cover increased energy costs and all other running costs which have also increased due to increased inflation and the cost-of-living crisis. [55495/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding to all recognised schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs including heating, lighting etc. and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. These grants may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.

It was a very significant achievement to have secured €9.6 billion for Education in Budget ’23. This will enable many ground-breaking investments in our education system, furthering the work of this Government in recent years in reducing class sizes, reducing costs for families, tackling disadvantage and supporting achievement of all our students.

A rise in the cost of living should never be a barrier to education. I am very pleased therefore to have the support of my colleagues in Government to ensure this remains the case and as part of the cost of living measures I have secured €90m for additional capitation funding.

All recognised Primary and Post-Primary schools in the Free Education scheme will benefit from this additional capitation funding in 2022 which represents an increase of circa 40% of current standard and enhanced capitation rates.

The additional grant will be paid at the rate of €75 per pupil at Primary level and €113 at Post-Primary level. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational needs. Arrangements are being made to issue this payment as soon as possible and schools can use this to cover additional energy costs and other increased day to day operating costs.

In the context of the current cost of living crisis I would expect this very significant additional funding being made available to schools will be sufficient to meet increased running costs.

However, the government has made provision for a review of the position in 2023. Should additional funding be required this will be considered in light of all other competing demands at that time as well as the level of funding available.

My Department has also ensured in recent years that centrally negotiated rates were made available to schools for electricity and bulk heating fuels through frameworks sourced by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). A significant number of schools signed up to these and are availing of highly competitive energy prices. The Schools Procurement Unit and the Department has communicated with schools and school management bodies informing them of the options available to them through these national arrangements. It is planned to run future competitions to ensure that bulk rates continue to be available from 2024 onwards. Information on how to avail of these arrangements is available via the Schools Procurement Unit website, www.spu.ie.

As the Deputy may also be aware Budget 2023 provided for the provision of funding from the Climate Action Fund in relation to the provision of Photovoltaic Panels in schools up to 6KW output.

This is really positive news for our schools and will assist with their energy needs and costs along with supporting the decarbonisation of our school buildings.

My Department's Officials are working closely with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications colleagues in relation to the arrangements for this scheme and details will be announced in due course.

It is intended the provision of the solar panels will be fully funded for schools.