Jonathan O'Brien
Question:159. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding available to parents or patrons who wish to establish primary schools and secondary schools. [42290/14]
View answerWednesday, 5 November 2014
Questions (159)
Written answers
The full accommodation start-up costs of all new primary and post-primary schools are met by the Department. This will vary from school to school depending on the accommodation being provided. Furniture and equipment grants are all also paid together with staff salaries, capitation grants and book grants. Ancillary grants for caretaking and secretarial support are also provided. Permanent school buildings are fast tracked for new schools where possible because they are set up to meet demographic demands. The full cost of sites and buildings for these schools are met by the Department. This is a multi-million Euro investment by the State for each individual school. A start-up grant of €6,348.69 is also payable to each newly established primary school. At second level, a start-up grant of €20,000 is payable in respect of newly established voluntary secondary and community & comprehensive schools. Costs associated with new schools established by an Education and Training Board (ETB) are addressed in the context of the non-pay grant made available by my Department to the relevant ETB. The start-up grant is intended to defray the initial costs involved in establishing a new school. These may include the cost of advertising for and recruiting staff; administration costs; insurance; printing; legal advice and the provision of equipment such as computers, telephone and other essential office supplies.