Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

985. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding options available for small rural schools to cover the cost of the discharge licence monitoring fees payable to the local authority in respect of Section 4 licence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46753/25]

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 €224 per pupil in primary schools and €386 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.

The cost of discharge licence monitoring fees payable to a local authority in respect of Section 4 licence can be met by capitation grant funding.