Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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440. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of a request for financial support from a newly amalgamated school (details supplied) where only one grant funding will be provided to subsidise the pay of secretaries upon amalgamation, reducing the amount the school receives from €46,550 to €23,275 despite no reduction in staffing levels; if she will support the request for funding to ensure the school does not face a financial blow for amalgamating; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37831/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Capitation grant funding calculation is based on the total enrolment in the school as at September of the school year multiplied by the current rate. Capitation funding for voluntary secondary schools is currently €345 per student but will increase to €386 from September 2025. The amalgamation should have no impact on the capitation funding due to the new school.

Voluntary secondary schools receive two different secretary grants and two caretaker grants as outlined in Circular 0082/2020. The calculation of these grants is capped at a maximum enrolment of 350 students. Due to this maximum enrolment rule it may be the case that the amalgamated school in the 25/26 school year would receive less funding for these grants compared to the prior year.

The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by my Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cashflow management. Correspondence has been recently received from the FSSU on behalf of this school in relation to their amalgamation and the ancillary-related costs. Schools Division Financial section will be reviewing the individual circumstances in this school and will communicate directly with the school in due course.