Brendan Smith
Question:216 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his policy on the provision of State funding to fee paying schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11021/12]
View answerTuesday, 28 February 2012
Questions (178)
Written answers
The funding to which the Deputy refers is the arrangement whereby the salaries of teachers employed within the approved annual staffing allocation for fee charging schools by my Department are paid by the State; an arrangement that pre-dates the introduction of the Free Education scheme and which exists since the foundation of the State. The estimated cost of these posts is in the order of €100 million.
The Deputy will be aware that I announced a review last December, in the context of the Budget 2012, where I made a further one point change to the staffing allocation of fee charging schools. I indicated at the time that the purpose of the review would be to inform future policy in relation to exchequer support for these schools.
The review will be completed in the coming months and in time to inform Government deliberations on the next budget. The majority of fee paying schools have responded to a request from my officials seeking initial information regarding tuition fees charged for the academic year 2011/12. Reminders have issued to a small number of schools. Once complete this information will enable a calculation of the gross income from tuition fees in respect of each school and it will be related to the exchequer resources foregone by each school because it is a fee charging school.
The information will be shared with the schools and each school will be provided with an opportunity to provide any further information on their finances and liabilities that may impact on the level of fee income they actually have available.