Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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339. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the main initiatives she has taken to provide reduced class sizes at primary school level since 27 June 2020; the additional funding provided in successive budgets; her plans for 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29599/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In the three previous Budgets, I prioritised reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools, the lowest level ever seen at primary level. A 3-point reduction in the retention schedule, which I introduced in 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts. I also improved teacher allocations for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools which now stand at an average of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively.

The latest figures in relation to the pupil-teacher ratio shows an improved ratio of pupils to teachers from 15.7:1 to 13.4:1 at primary level when comparing the 2016/17 school year with the 2022/23 school year. In the same period the primary staffing schedule improved from 27:1 to 24:1. Average class sizes at primary improved from 24.6 to 22.8 in the same period. The improvements brought about by Budget 2023 for this school year will be available in the statistical reports published at the end of the school year.

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 as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.

In addition to these grants, €20 million in funding issued during the mid-term break, to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. This funding was 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 2024.

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 a permanent restoration of capitation funding as well as an increase for cost of living pressures.

The current standard rate of Capitation grant is €183 per pupil at primary level, and has been paid to schools in January and June 2024 for the 2023/24 academic year.

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 grant to the pre-2011 level of €200 per student in primary schools and €345 per student in post primary schools. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs, and Traveller pupils. This represents an increase of circa 9.2% of current standard and the relevant enhanced capitation rate.

Primary schools also receive an Ancillary Services Grant. The standard rate is €173 per pupil in primary schools.

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

My Department provides funding to schools to provide workbooks and copies to all children and young people enrolled in recognised primary and special schools. It is expected that over 563,000 children and young people, - in 3,230 primary and special schools, - will benefit from this scheme in the 2024/25 school year. The payment per pupil for the 24/25 school year is €80. Payments totalling €44.7 million were made to schools under the scheme in May 2024. This is considered to be sufficient to deliver this scheme, particularly as all schools have used initial funding from last year to purchase a significant volume of textbooks and other resources which can be re-used in the coming school year.

Overall, my Department will spend almost €2.8 billion on special education in 2024, supporting students across mainstream and specialised settings. Almost 1,300 new special classes have been sanctioned over the last four years. For the coming school year, there will be over 3,000 special classes operating in primary and post-primary schools.

Seven new special schools have been established in recent years, and another four special schools will open in Meath, Kildare, Wexford and Limerick for the coming school year.

Any possible further increases will be part of Budget 2025 negotiations. While not wishing to pre-empt the outcomes of any future Budget negotiations or fiscal parameters agreed by Government, the Department of Education will continue to seek and prioritise the additional funding required to meet the ongoing costs of running schools as part of the annual Estimates process.