John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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165. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to consider allocating further funding of €10,000 to a school in view of the additional costs associated with their new classroom (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26147/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers was approved a school building project under the Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for a two classroom Special Educational Needs (SEN) base. The project was devolved for delivery to the school authority. The project is practically completed in September 2023 although there remain some outstanding issues which need to be finalised with the design team and contractor.

The full cost of this project has been met by my Department and the school has also received €5,000 for furniture and equipment, €13,400 for an ICT grant, €7,000 for a multi-sensory grant and €13,000 for SEN start up grant for this project.

My Department is committed to providing 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 and general up-keep and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities, except for cases where a secretary is now paid from my Department’s payroll as per circular 36/2022.

The current standard rate of Capitation grant is €183 per pupil at Primary level and this year's grant is being paid, as usual, in 2 instalments, - the first in January and the second in June, for the 2023/24 academic year. Enhanced rates of capitation are also paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Traveller pupils.

Primary schools with less than 60 pupils are paid the Capitation and the Ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils.

As part of the capitation package in Budget 2024 my Department secured €21 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and in the 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 grant to the pre-2011 level of €200 per student in primary 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.

In addition to these grants, €20 million in funding was issued in October 2023, to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme. This funding is the first tranche of an overall additional €60 million funding announced as part of Budget 2024 measures designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. A further €40 million in funding was delivered in early 2024.

A Minor Works Grant of €29 million was paid in April 2024 to primary schools, including special schools for the current school year 2024/2025. Currently the Minor Work Grant payable is €5,500 basic grant plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil.

Schools have the autonomy to use this funding for maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds. Given that each school setting is different, individual schools are best placed to decide how best to use this funding to address their particular needs.

The works that can be undertaken under the minor works scheme include maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds, improvement or replacement of mechanical and electrical services, the purchase of standard furniture and physical education equipment, the purchase of floor coverings and window blinds, the purchase of IT related equipment, ventilation improvements, and enhancements to outdoor learning environments.

Since 2020 this school has received in relation to Minor Works Grants a total of €77,023.50 including a sum of €10,994.50 paid in April 2024.

There is no provision for additional payments outside of those outlined above.

The Financial Service Support Unit (FSSU) is an important source of advice and is available to primary schools to assist on financial matters. Should the school require the services of the FSSU they may contact them directly at 01 910 4020 or by email at primary@fssu.ie. Details of the supports provided by the FSSU are available at: www.fssu.ie/primary/.