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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 3

Written Answers. - School Insurance.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

64 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the concern expressed by the joint managerial body that soaring insurance and other costs are putting secondary schools in an impossible position; the steps he has taken to provide additional assistance to assist such schools, especially in regard to insurance costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30921/03]

John Deasy

Question:

121 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will increase the capitation grant payable per pupil per annum in voluntary schools in recognition of the difficulties that are being caused to such schools due to the rise in the cost of insurance in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30982/03]

Richard Bruton

Question:

274 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has collected information on the cost of insurance in schools in the Dublin area; and his views on the need for some premium over and above the standard capitation grant to meet the differential costs in Dublin. [30849/03]

John Cregan

Question:

308 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Education and Science about funding of voluntary secondary schools; his plans for equalisation of funding in the sector; if his attention has been drawn to the rising cost of insurance; the movements in resources given to such schools in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31216/03]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 121, 274 and 308 together.

It is important to consider the issue of insurance costs for voluntary secondary schools in the wider context of the equalisation of funding arrangements across the second level system. Different funding arrangements have historically applied to the three sectors at second level. The Government and its predecessor removed some of the anomalies and the process continues.

The standardper capita grant for voluntary secondary schools has been significantly increased in recent years and now amounts to €266 as against the rate of €224 that applied in 1997. Recently I announced a further increase in the 2004 Estimates in the standard per capita grant with effect from 1 January 2004 to €274. The increase will bring the grant for disadvantaged schools to €312.
My announcement builds on my commitment towards enhanced equalisation funding measures for voluntary secondary schools. In addition to theper capita grant of €25 that was introduced under the school services support initiative for second level schools in September 2000, and now stands at €99 since January, secondary schools have benefited from a further increase of €28 bringing the grant for such schools to €127 from January. The per capita grant was in addition to a range of equalisation grants of up to some €15,500 per school per annum that were also approved for voluntary secondary schools. For a secondary school with 500 pupils this amounts to additional equalisation funding of almost €30,000 per annum and overall additional support services funding of approximately €80,000 per annum.
A further measure of my continuing commitment is my recent announcement in the context of the 2004 Estimates that the support services grant of €127 per pupil will be further increased from 1 January 2004 in the case of voluntary secondary schools to €131. That is aper capita increase of €4. A measure of the increase in overall funding for secondary schools is that by comparison with 1997 a secondary school with 500 pupils now receives extra annual funding of up to €105,000 per annum.
Insurance costs take account of the value of school premises, the number of staff and the number of pupils. Different ratings apply and have done so for many years in the Dublin area, other major cities and rural areas.
If the Government covered the insurance costs of voluntary secondary schools it might only encourage the insurance sector to keep increasing premia on the basis that the State would pay them. It would also reduce the incentive for school managements to reduce risks. Such a move would be akin to the State insuring private property and I am not about to contemplate that. Schools may have to obtain more competitive quotes.
I am committed to further improving the funding of voluntary secondary schools in the light of available resources and to addressing the issue of equity raised by voluntary secondary schools. At a time of increased financial constraints, the recent announcement of further significant increases in the funding of voluntary secondary schools is a clear demonstration of my commitment to prioritise available resources to address the needs of schools.
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