Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 October 2004
149 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will increase the level of the capitation grant for primary and secondary schools; if her attention has been drawn to the chronic inadequacy of the grant in meeting day-to-day expenditure in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26101/04]
View answerI am committed to improving the funding position of primary and secondary schools in the light of available resources.
Significant improvements in the levels of direct funding of schools have been made in recent years. The standard rate of capitation grant for primary schools has been increased from €57 in 1997 to €121.58 per pupil from 1 January last, an increase of almost 113%. In the case of secondary schools, the standard per capita grant now amounts to €274 from 1 January last as against the rate of €224.74 that applied in 1997. In the case of disadvantaged schools this increase has brought the total per capita grant to €312. In addition, the support grant that was introduced under the school services support initiative was also increased from 1 January last and now stands at €131 per pupil. This increase is in addition to the range of equalisation grants of up to €15,554 per school per annum that was approved in December 2001.
The question of further increases in the level of capitation grants payable to primary and secondary schools will be considered as part of the normal Estimates process.
