Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2017
173. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the capitation levels per pupil to primary schools and to post-primary schools; and the estimated cost of restoring capitation levels for both to pre-2010 levels. [30940/17]
View answerCurrently, the capitation grant is €170 per pupil at primary level and €296 per pupil at post-primary level.
The estimated cost of restoring capitation grants in primary and post-primary schools to pre 2010 levels is circa €35m.
I do recognise the need to improve capitation funding for primary schools having regard to the aforementioned reductions.
The Action Plan for Education outlines hundreds of actions to be implemented over the 3 year period 2016 to 2019 which include restoring capitation funding as resources permit.
Budget 2017 represents the start of a major programme of reinvestment in education, and the first phase of implementation of the Action Plan for Education, aimed at becoming the best education system in Europe within a decade.
In relation to capitation funding this commitment remains a priority for me to address during the lifetime of the Action Plan.
