Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2019
240. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase the capitation grants for schools in budget 2020; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of schools are struggling financially due to the reduced grants available under the capitation grants at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23487/19]
View answerI fully recognise the need to improve capitation funding for schools.
In the period 2011 to 2015 the capitation and related grants for schools were reduced by just over 11% in aggregate.
I am pleased to have 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.
I must be prudent in the context of ongoing budgetary pressures. Where it is not possible to do everything that I would like to do in the education sector in any one year I have to prioritise, especially in the context of increasing enrolments.
It is my intention to seek funding for further capitation increases in future budgets.
