Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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260. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline the cost of translation services provided to schools for the deaf in each of the years 2018 to 2022, in tabular form; the manner in which funding is allocated for translation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52047/23]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.

For 2023, the spend by my department on special education has been substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education. Further progress has been made in Budget 2024 where 26% of my department’s budget will be dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs, representing a 5% increase on Budget 2023.

This includes funding to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers, special needs assistants (SNAs) and funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).

In 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 SNAs and in 2024 a further 744 teachers, and 1,216 SNAs will be added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.

Responsibility for facilitating the school’s communication with a parent lies with the School’s Board of Management.

Schools' running costs such as translation services are met by the department's scheme of capitation grants which affords schools considerable flexibility in the use of these resources to cater for the needs of their pupils. As funding is issued by way of block grant amounts to individual schools, the information requested by the Deputy is not available from my department. These schools do not apply through a separate process for funding in relation to translation services.

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 Education and Training Board (ETB) sector as these schools are funded via non-pay budget grants from the department.

Enhanced capitation rates are payable in respect of pupils attending special schools and special classes and traveller pupils attached to mainstream schools to assist with the extra costs associated with the running costs of classrooms with a small number of pupils operating specialist provision. These rates depend on the particular level of need involved.

As part of the capitation package in Budget 2024, €21 million has been secured as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and in the long 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 €81 million 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 €75 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.

Schools also receive a range of other grants including book grants, programme grants etc. For the 2023/24 school year, a landmark new scheme was introduced 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 funding has been secured 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 significant increases in capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools in Budget 2024 has been secured. Including a permanent restoration of capitation funding as well as an increase for cost of living pressures.

My department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.