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. The standard capitation funding allocations are not related to specific subjects.

The Deputy may wish to note that the standard capitation grant rate for primary schools is €183 per pupil and the standard ancillary grant rate is €173 per pupil. Enhanced capitation rates are payable in respect of pupils attending special schools and for special classes attached to mainstream schools to assist with the extra costs associated with the running costs of classrooms with a small number of pupils operating specialist provision. These rates range from €469 to €903 per pupil depending on the particular level of need involved. The ancillary grant is paid to Special Schools based on the number of authorised full-time teaching staff approved by the Department. In addition to the grants mentioned above, Special schools are also eligible to receive Programme grants payable to post primary schools, if they have post-primary age students enrolled in the school and taking part in programmes such as Leaving Certificate Applied and Transition Year for example.