Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the ancillary services grant for the running of schools that is scheduled for payment in April 2023 is now being delayed until June 2023 (details supplied). [19659/23]

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:- assets.gov.ie/227054/9d2f60db-aa3e-4ab5-b170-c48392a6e04f.pdf#page=null.

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 been engaging with Management Bodies in order to discuss the interim arrangements for payment of the grant due up to September 2023 when secretaries are placed on a payroll operated by this Department.

These arrangements have now been finalised and a notice has issued to schools confirming funding will be in school accounts in the coming days.