Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018
253. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cuts that have occurred to the capitation fund for primary schools since 2008; the cost in monetary terms of these cuts to the primary school sector in each of the school years 2009-10 to 2017-18; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12574/18]
View answerThe capitation grant at primary level is €170 per pupil which represents a reduction of €30 from pre-2010 levels.
The table below outlines the approximate value of reductions in the rate of the capitation grant in each of the years 2011 to 2015. There were no reductions in the years 2009 and 2010 or in the years since 2015. In Budget 2011 which was announced in October 2010 the then Minister for Finance announced the first reduction in the rate of capittion paid to schools.
|
Financial Year |
Capitation Rate |
Decrease in Capitation Rate |
Pupil Enrolments |
Estimated year on year value of reductions |
|
2010 |
€200.00 |
|||
|
2011 |
€190.00 |
€10.00 |
509,652 |
€5,096,520 |
|
2012 |
€178.00 |
€12.00 |
516,458 |
€6,197,496 |
|
2013 |
€176.00 |
€2.00 |
526,422 |
€1,052,844 |
|
2014 |
€173.00 |
€3.00 |
536,317 |
€1,608,951 |
|
2015 |
€170.00 |
€3.00 |
544,699 |
€1,634,097 |
I recognise the need to improve capitation funding for schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years. As the Deputy may be aware, restoring capitation funding as resources permit is one of the actions included in the Action Plan for Education.
