Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2018
245. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason budget 2019 did not prioritise the restoration of the capitation grant in view of the fact that austerity measures reduced the grant by €30; the way in which schools are expected to make up for the continued shortfall in funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43176/18]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware of the many pressing demands within Education which my Department has had to consider in recent years. Important changes have been made resourcing and reforming provision for children with Special Educational Needs, rolling out Junior Cycle Reform, strengthening school leadership, reducing Primary Class Size, restoring Guidance Teachers, providing for extra students at all levels, providing for new skill needs in Apprenticeships and Traineeships and in Higher Education.
I fully recognise the need to improve capitation funding for schools.
I am pleased that my Department has been able to provide for a 5% increase in capitation funding for primary and post primary schools that will apply from the start of the 2019/20 school year. Over the course of the school year 2019/20, an additional €10 million will be allocated to primary and post primary schools, of which €4 million will be allocated in 2019.
My Department must be prudent in the context of ongoing budgetary pressures and have to prioritise where it is not possible to do everything that itwould like to do in the Education Sector in any one year especially in the light of increasing enrolments.
It is my intention to seek funding for further capitation increases in future budgets.
