Jonathan O'Brien
Question:413. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of reversing cuts to the capitation grants for primary and post primary schools. [19273/15]
View answerTuesday, 19 May 2015
Questions (413)
Written answers
The last Budget included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60 million during 2015. That increase has provided funding for 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs to be recruited for our schools, as well as funding important reforms. However, it was not possible to secure the funding which would be required to also increase the rates of capitation paid to our schools.
The school funding measures introduced in Budget 2011 provided for a 5% reduction in funding for capitation and related grants to primary and second level schools. This was applied to schools by a 5% reduction across the range of per capita grants.
The multi annual school funding measures introduced in Budget 2012, provided for a 6% overall reduction in the funding for capitation and related grants to primary and second level schools. The reduction was introduced on a phased basis and applied by a 2% reduction in 2012 and 2013 and a further reduction of 1% in 2014 and 2015.
In total these measures have resulted in capitation and related funding to the primary and second level school sector being reduced by 11%. Increasing overall funding at present would cost approx. €3.7m per percentage point.
I am determined that education will be prioritised for further investment in future years, and I believe that increasing the staffing and funding of our schools should be priorities for such investment.