Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

365. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if additional financial support will be provided for primary schools; particularly smaller schools where capitation funding is inadequate to meet essential expenditure due to increased costs over recent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28842/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The 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 the employment of relevant secretaries as per Circular 0036/2022.

The current standard rate of capitation grant is €200 per pupil in primary schools and €345 per student in post-primary schools.

Primary schools with fewer 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 2025 the Department is pleased to have secured over €30 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This represents an increase of circa 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates. This increase is on top of the circa 9.2% increase from last year’s budget. This will bring the standard rate of capitation grant to the level of €224 per pupil in primary schools and €386 per student in post-primary schools from September 2025. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils. Schools should also ensure that they are availing of the available OGP procurement frameworks and getting best value for money for all school expenditure.

In addition to these grants, €45 million in cost-of-living supports issued in November 2024 to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. This additional funding announced in Budget 2025 is designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. This funding was paid at a rate of €36 per pupil in primary schools and €55 per student in post-primary schools. Enhanced rates were also paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.

The Department of Education is aware that costs and funding can pose a problem for schools, and is constantly working to address this matter, and to enhance the financial and other supports available to schools.

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 funding required to meet the ongoing costs of running schools.

The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cashflow management. Contact details for FSSU can be found on www.fssu.ie.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

366. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the next IT grant will be issued to primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28851/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

To date, €310 million has issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in ICT grant funding, under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 and the current Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027. This funding has enabled schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to enable the embedding of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment, in accordance with their digital learning plans.

The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and it's associated implementation plan is underpinned by funding of €200m over the course of the strategy, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The funding allocation model is provided for in the National Development Plan and commits to funding to issue over the period of the NDP, applied by the Department for the Digital Strategy duration (to 2027 for the current strategy).

As this is capital funding, grant issue in each year is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department including the building programme to ensure the supply of school accommodation.

Two tranches of funding from the NDP commitment for the Digital Strategy to 2027, €50m in 2024 and 2022 respectively, to primary, special schools and post-primary schools. This funding issued directly to schools, as they are best placed to determine the needs of their own students and have autonomy to do so, within the criteria applying to this funding.

The Department is aware of the importance of the ICT grants for schools. It is in this context, that the ICT grants and other capital expenditure priorities are being considered within the overall funds available. Engagement is ongoing with Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on capital funding priorities, including on the National Development Plan review process with a view to providing more clarity and certainty for schools on the timelines for payment of ICT Grant funding.

On that basis, I hope to be in a position to announce the position regarding the ICT grant funding shortly.