Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding to recognised Primary and Post-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.

These grants may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.

I was pleased to announce that, as part of Budget 2024, over €20 million in additional capitation funding will be available to assist schools now and in longer term with increased day-to-day running costs, bringing the basic rate of capitation to €345 per students in post-primary schools. In addition, I have also secured an additional €60 million in cost of living supports, which will be paid to all primary and post-primary schools in the free scheme.

The Deputy may wish to note that my Department also provides funding annually to Music Generation, a national music education programme whose mission is to empower children and young people to realise their full potential through access to, and participation in, high quality performance music education. Music Generation achieves this through the work of Local Music Education Partnerships across the country, primarily led by Education and Training Boards in partnership with Local Authorities. The funding provided by Music Generation may be used by the local partners for the purchase of musical instruments to enable the provision of performance music education to children and young people. Local Music Education Partnerships, primarily led by Education and Training Boards in partnership with Local Authorities, may determine how much of the available funding to invest in musical instruments, depending on the need identified in their area.