Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020
231. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing capitation funding to schools to offset the reliance on voluntary contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4724/20]
View answerThis government has increased the capitation grant in each of the last two budgets.
I understand the need for improved capitation funding and I am pleased to have been able to provide for a further 2.5% increase in standard capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools that will apply from the start of the 2020/21 school year. This builds on last years 5% increase in capitation announced in budget 2019.
The combined increases given in 2019 and 2020 mean that circa 40% restoration will be achieved.
All schools have received the benefit of the capitation increases awarded to date. It is my intention to seek funding for further capitation increases in future budgets.
Unfortunately, there is no information available to my Department that may be used to assess the full year cost of funding schools in order to allow them to abolish the voluntary contribution. However, in addition to the increases above the estimated cost of increasing the standard capitation for all schools by 1%, 5% and 10% is set out in the following table.
|
% increase |
€m |
|
1% |
1.06 |
|
5% |
11.09 |
|
10% |
22.18 |
