The funding arrangements made by my Department for post primary schools reflect the sectoral division of our second-level system. At the core of all arrangements is reliance upon capitation as the principal determinant of funding.
My Department provides funding to Community and Comprehensive schools on a budget basis that is based mainly on pupil numbers, but also takes into account additional factors which vary from school to school such as age of buildings, size of school etc.
With regard to the ETB sector, financial allocations are made to ETBs as part of a block grant. ETBs are given a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of this grant and each is allowed to distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and perceptions of need.
My Department provides funding to voluntary secondary schools by way of per capita grants. Fee charging schools do not receive any capitation or related grants from my Department.
In addition, all schools participating in the DEIS programme receive additional funding by way of a DEIS Grant. This grant is based on each school's individual level of disadvantage in the DEIS identification process.
The following information was provided under Standing Order 40A
I am now in a position to provide additional information on the specific points raised in the PQ.
As set out in the initial answer, the funding arrangements made by my Department for post primary schools reflect the sectoral division of our second-level system. At the core of all arrangements is reliance upon capitation as the principal determinant of funding.
My Department provides funding to Community and Comprehensive schools on a budget basis that is based mainly on pupil numbers, but also takes into account additional factors which vary from school to school such as age of buildings, size of school etc.
With regard to the ETB, sector financial allocations are made to ETBs as part of a block grant. ETBs are given a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of this grant and each is allowed to distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and perceptions of need.
My Department provides funding to voluntary secondary schools by way of per capita grants. The rates and method of calculation of these grants is set out in the table.
In addition all schools participating in DEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, receive a DEIS grant based on each school’s level of disadvantage relative to other schools as identified by the DEIS identification process. The identification of schools for inclusion in DEIS was carried out in 2005 by the Education Research Centre as an independent process.
DEIS grants are calculated on the basis of the eligible enrolment in a school multiplied by the level of disadvantage multiplied by the rate of grant. In order that the most disadvantaged pupils benefit proportionately from the use of resources, the model is designed so that grants are targeted at the disadvantaged pupil numbers within schools rather than at the whole school. Pupils in special classes are excluded from the calculation of the DEIS Grant. For the 2014-15 school year, DEIS grants totalling €10.8million were paid to DEIS primary schools and grants totalling €3.5million were paid to DEIS post primary schools.
To date neither the ranking of schools in order of their respective levels of concentrated disadvantage, nor the individual funding amounts paid to schools, has been made public in order not to identify particular schools and create a ‘league table’ of DEIS schools. This principle is particularly important at present as I have recently commenced a review of the DEIS programme. Accordingly, I am not in a position to provide the detailed information requested in respect of DEIS schools.
Table: Voluntary Secondary Schools in the Free Education Scheme
Per Capita Grant Rates for general running costs and funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services with effect from 1
st
January 2015
Standard Capitation Grant
€296 per pupil, less the contribution to teachers’ salaries of €562.5 per Serving Permanent/CID based on the figures contained in each schools schedule of Department supported posts. The grant is paid in three instalments in September, January and April.
School Services Support Fund (SSSF)
€201 per pupil payable in three instalments in September, January and April. Each eligible school receives the SSSF grant, which is calculated at a minimum enrolment rate of 200 pupils and thereafter according to enrolment.
Grants for Secretaries
Basic Secretarial Grant, €36 per pupil
SSSF Secretary Grant, €24 per pupil
Schools employing secretaries under ‘the 1978 scheme’ do not receive any secretary grants.
Grants for Caretakers
Basic Caretaker Grant, €30 per pupil
SSSF Caretaker Grant, €18 per pupil
To qualify for the basic secretary and caretaker grants, a school must have an enrolment figure of at least 200 pupils. The grant is calculated by multiplying the enrolment figure by the rate up to a maximum of 350 pupils. These grants are calculated according to the previous school year's enrolment figures.
All schools, regardless of enrolment, receive the SSSF caretaker and secretary grants, which are calculated at a minimum enrolment rate of 200 pupils and thereafter according to enrolment up to a maximum of 350 pupils.
