Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the ancillary grant will be paid to national schools; what advice is being issued to schools to cover staffing costs for the delay in the payment of the grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18602/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding to recognised Primary 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 such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the Ancillary to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff.

Schools are permitted to regard the capitation and ancillary grants as a combined grant. It is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs.

As the Deputy is aware, an agreement was reached between my Department and Fórsa on improved terms and conditions for grant funded secretaries. Further details are available in Circular 0036/2022.

A bulletin was issued to schools by my Department recently advising them of the work that has been ongoing to implement this agreement so that secretaries who accepted it can be paid on my Department’s payroll from 1^stSeptember 2023.

In relation to payment of the Ancillary Grant referred to by the Deputy, my Department has engaged with Management Bodies in order to discuss the interim arrangements for payment of the grant due up to 31^stAugust 2023.

Arrangements are being finalised for the payment of the grant.