Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Education, I believe it is crucially important that children and young people are actively supported to access education in its fullest forms. This Government recognises that the cost of preparing children for school each September can be a cause of financial difficulty and worry for many Irish families.

As part of Budget 2023, I announced a major investment of over €50 million to provide free schoolbooks in recognised primary schools and special schools. This was a landmark moment in Irish education and one that furthers our goal to provide free education for all and ensure that every child can benefit from free education.

The introduction of this measure directly addressed our commitment under the Programme for Government to commence a free schoolbooks scheme pilot in September 2020 and expand the scheme to schools nationwide, as resources allow.

The Free Primary Schoolbook Scheme has resulted in over 558,000 pupils in over 3,230 recognised primary schools, including over 130 special schools benefitting from free schoolbooks and classroom resources from this September. The number of pupils who benefitted in counties Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal under the scheme is 10,177, 7,923, 3,842, 7,555 and 19,071 respectively or 48,568 overall.

To further the delivery of our important government commitment, last week I announced that funding is allocated under Budget 2024 to extend the free schoolbooks scheme to all students in junior cycle years in public post primary schools. The total funding available for this extension of the scheme is €67 million.

It is estimated that up to 213,000 students, in over 670 schools across all counties, will benefit from this new measure, which will commence from September 2024.

The grant for this scheme will be paid based on the previous year’s validated enrolment figures which, for the 2024/25 school year, will be the enrolment numbers for the current 2023/24 school year.

The most recent validated enrolment figures which is held by my Department on junior cycle enrolments show that 208,736 students were enrolled in junior cycle years in the 2022/23 school year. The number of students expected to benefit from the Junior Cycle scheme in counties Cavan, Monaghan. Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal under the new scheme is:

• 3,612 in Cavan
• 1,557 in Leitrim
• 2,798 Sligo and
• 7,895 in Donegal,
• Or 18,854 overall.

Guidance on the new junior cycle free schoolbooks scheme will be developed over the coming period as part of our engagement process with schools, parent and management bodies and other stakeholders. It will ensure that value for money is achieved, and that schools will be supported to implement the scheme in a way that has the best learning outcomes for junior cycle students. Similar to the scheme at primary level, administrative supports will be provided to schools in order to roll out the scheme.

As Minister for Education, I am acutely aware of the various costs faced by families upon the return of their children to school each September and am confident that this new provision will further and significantly reduce the back to school financial burden for many families.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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It gives me great pleasure to have secured €10.5 billion in total funding for Education in Budget 2024. This significant increase in funding ensures that the total budget is at the highest ever for our primary and post primary schools. The funding will ensure continued reduced costs for families; it will continue to tackle disadvantage and it will provide further supports to safeguard inclusive education for all school communities.

This year’s Budget will provide targeted funding for school communities with an increase in capitation of over €81 million.

The current standard rate of Capitation grant is €183 per pupil at Primary level and at post primary the standard rate is €316 per student for voluntary secondary schools. The standard capitation rates are different for Community and Comprehensive schools as well as those in the ETB sector as these schools are funded via budgets.

As part of the capitation package in Budget 2024 I am pleased to have secured €21 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This will support a permanent restoration of funding for all primary and post-primary schools from September 2024. This will bring the basic rate of capitation to €200 per student in primary schools and to €345 in voluntary secondary schools. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational needs. This represents an increase of circa 9.2% of current standard and enhanced capitation rates.

The €81million secured for capitation also includes €60 million as part of the Cost of Living measures in Budget 2024. All recognised Primary and Post-Primary schools in the Free Education scheme will benefit from this additional capitation funding which will be paid at an average rate of €49 per pupil at Primary level and €73 at Post-Primary level. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational needs.

Schools also receive an Ancillary Services Grant. The standard rate is €173 per pupil in Primary schools and €224.50 per student in Post-Primary schools.

Primary schools with less than 60 pupils are paid the Capitation and the Ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils. At Post-Primary level, schools with less than 200 students receive ancillary related grants on the basis of having 200 students.

The amount of Capitation funding which issues to Primary and Post Primary schools is not maintained by my Department on a county basis.

Schools also receive a range of other grants including Book Grants, Programme grants etc. For the 2023/24 school year I introduced a landmark new scheme that signifies a new chapter in Irish primary education to provide free school books for all primary and special school pupils. The total free primary book grant amount paid to date in 2023 is €53.5m.

I am very pleased to say that I have secured funding to extend the free school books scheme to junior cycle students from the start of the next school year in September 2024. The total funding available for this extension of the scheme is €67 million.

I understand the need for increased capitation funding and I am pleased that I have been able to provide for significant increases in capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools in Budget 2024 which includes also a permanent restoration of capitation funding as well as an increase for cost of living pressures.