Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

378. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide update on whether the Covid cleaning grant for schools will be continued for term 2; and when the payment schedule will issue. [11140/23]

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

More than €317 million of additional Covid-19 Capitation grant funding was made available to recognised primary and post primary schools to provide for the implementation of infection prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID -19 for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 school years. A further €45 million has been provided to cater for ongoing enhanced cleaning, PPE and hand hygiene for Term 1 of the 2022/23 school year. This represents a total of €362.7 million to date.

As the Deputy is aware, the continued payment of Covid-19 capitation grants is determined by the prevailing public health advice at the time.

Staff in my Department are currently engaging with colleagues in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the Covid-19 Capitation grants for Term 2 of the 2022/2023 school year. Further details will be provided as soon as possible.