Written answers

Thursday, 3 July 2025

Department of Education and Skills

School Funding

Photo of Emer CurrieEmer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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233. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider changing the criteria of the capitation grant for special schools to consider all school staff or the square meter area of the school premises, in order to provide special school to receive a greater amount under the grant to meet their day-to-day costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36883/25]

Photo of Michael MoynihanMichael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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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 an over €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. Over the last two Budgets there has been a circa 22% increase in the level of capitation grant rates paid to schools.

The Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools, including special 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.

In addition to these grants, €45 million in cost-of-living supports issued in November 2024 to support all recognised 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. Schools should also ensure that they are availing of the available OGP procurement frameworks and getting best value for money for all school expenditure.

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 funding requirements of special schools will be prioritised for consideration in this regard.

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 cash-flow management. Contact details for FSSU can be found on www.fssu.ie.

My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.

Photo of Emer CurrieEmer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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234. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider extending the €74 per-pupil allocation under the minor works grant in special schools to also take account of teacher and SNA numbers, in order to better reflect the resource needs of special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36884/25]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My department recognises the importance of the Minor Works Grant to primary schools. The Minor Works Grant is provided to all primary and special schools, to enable them undertake small-scale minor maintenance and improvement works on a devolved basis.

Primary and special schools need not apply for Minor Works Grant aid. Under the scheme, funding is made available to all primary and special schools on the following basis:

€5,500 basic grant plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil enrolled in the school on the 30th of September of the year prior to the issue of the grant. The €74 rate applies to a special needs pupil attending a special school or attending a special class attached to a mainstream school.

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 the school’s particular needs.

Since 2020, €310 million in Minor Works Grants and Enhanced Minor Works Grants have issued to schools. This includes the payment of Minor Works Grants totalling almost €30 million for the school year 2025/2026, which issued in June.

Any changes to the Minor Works Grant will receive consideration in the context of my department’s NDP allocations. As part of the NDP Review process, all departments, including my department, are currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with respect to NDP allocations for the period 2026-2030. It is expected that there will be clarity on these allocations over the course of the summer period, and this will allow my department to plan its capital investment programme for the 2026 to 2030 period in line with prioritised needs and reflecting, as appropriate, wider Government priorities.

Photo of Emer CurrieEmer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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235. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will provide funding to a school (details supplied) to provide for a sunken trampoline that was recommended by the occupational therapist and physiotherapist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36885/25]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware my department supports schools through funding from the furniture & equipment scheme (F&E) to have sufficient appropriate furniture and equipment to meet the needs of the vast majority of children. However, as the furniture and equipment needs of some children are highly sensitive and individualised, these applications for funding are dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

For this small cohort of children, part of the application process requires the submission of an Occupational Therapist’s (OT) report which details the individual requirements of a child, and the associated furniture and equipment needs.

It is not always possible to fund individual sensory and therapeutic items, as some of the items recommended by an OT are outside the current remit of the scheme. It should be noted that a sunken trampoline does not fall within the remit of the F&E scheme and therefore would not be funded by my department.

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