Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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92. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will increase capitation payments for primary schools, taking into consideration increased costs over recent years and the particular challenges facing smaller schools in meeting ongoing financial commitments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31258/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to increasing funding to support schools and the Programme for Government commits to increasing capitation funding to schools of all types to ensure that schools can meet the elevated day to day running costs.

The Commitment in the Programme for Government builds on the progress which has been made in recent years, including a €30 million permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs through Budget 2025. This represents an increase of circa 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates. This increase is on top of the approx 9.2% increase from Budget 2024.

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

The current standard rate of capitation grant is €200 per pupil in primary schools. Budget 2025 will bring the standard rate of capitation grant to the level of €224 per pupil in primary schools from September 2025. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.

In addition to capitation funding provided to schools a number of other grants are paid to support schools with costs, including the Minor Works grant, the Summer Works grant, ICT grants, grant funding under the Policy on Gaeltacht Education and DEIS grants.

Any possible further increases will be part of Budget 2026 negotiations. The Department of Education and Youth 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.