Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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176. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when schools can expect to receive their ICT grant for this year. [22214/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published in April 2022 and builds on the achievements of the previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020. It aims to further support the school system so that all students across our schools have the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills they need to navigate an ever-evolving digital world successfully. The strategy was developed following an extensive consultation process with all relevant stakeholders including students, parents/guardians, teachers and industry and sets out the various supports and resources available to schools in this important area.

The first tranche of funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 totaling €50m issued in December 2021, part of the total amount of investment of some €200m committed to support the implementation of the Digital Strategy through the National Development Plan. Under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2027 and subject to the available exchequer funding, and the Departments capital funding requirement, the remaining amount of some €150m will issue over the lifetime of the Digital Strategy for Schools 2027. As with funding under the previous strategy, the funding issued directly to schools as schools are best placed to identify the requirements of their own student cohort and to meet those requirements in the most appropriate way.

I recently announced €29 million in minor works funding for primary and special schools. This funding can be used not only for the maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds but also for the provision of ICT infrastructure in schools.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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177. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason primary schools receive a lower rate of ICT grant per pupil than post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22215/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published in April 2022 and builds on the achievements of the previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020. It aims to further support the school system so that all students across our schools have the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills they need to navigate an ever-evolving digital world successfully. The strategy was developed following an extensive consultation process with all relevant stakeholders including students, parents/guardians, teachers and industry and sets out the various supports and resources available to schools in this important area.

The strategy is underpinned by an overall investment of €200m, €50m of which has already issued directly to schools in respect of the 2020 to 2021 school year.

The rates of per capita payment applied for primary and post-primary schools for the ICT Infrastructure grants reflects that a rate difference is also applied to the general capitation paid by the Department. Post-primary schools generally have a greater number of teaching spaces to equip and maintain, and have a broader curriculum and more specialised curricular areas to support. The pupil-teacher ratio in post-primary schools is lower, which means that they generally have a greater number of teachers to provide for. This is the approach typically taken by the Department in relation to similar grant schemes that apply to primary and post-primary. However it should be noted that the first tranche of grant funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 saw a proportional increase in the funding applied to primary schools, thereby reducing the difference in rates between the two sectors that had applied to the funding issued under the Digital Strategy 2015 to 2020.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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178. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that the home tuition grant is processed in a timely manner to provide funding for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22226/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that all outstanding payments to the school in question in respect of home tuition have now been processed.

The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. The terms of this scheme are set out in circular 46/2022 which is available on the Government of Ireland website at www.gov.ie/en/circular/22b2a-home-tuition-grant-scheme-20222023-special-education-component/

Payments to group providers of home tuition, such as the facility concerned, are made directly to the provider on a monthly basis in arrears in accordance with my Department’s policy in this regard. Claim forms are submitted to my Department at the end of the month in which tuition has been provided and every effort is made to process these claims as efficiently as possible to ensure payment is made as soon as possible after the claim form is received from the facility. However, delays may be experienced from time to time if forms are incomplete. I can assure the deputy that every effort is being made to keep any delays to a minimum.