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Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2020

Tuesday, 6 October 2020

Questions (471)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

471. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 319 of 29 September 2020, if she will provide the total amount of additional Covid-19 related Exchequer expenditure for 2021 for her Department and a breakdown by line items of this additional expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28683/20]

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Written answers

As part of the Roadmap for the Reopening Schools an estimated €437 million in additional financial supports are being provided to schools for the 2020/2021 academic year. Of this €437 million, €211 million is being provided for the period August/September to December 2020 and €226m for January 2021 to July/August 2021. These amounts do not include any additional post primary school transport costs arising from the Government Decision of 18 August, on foot of the updated health advice received, to review measures to ensure the safe operation of school transport for post primary school children as those costs are yet to be fully quantified.

The table below provides a breakdown of the estimated €437 million funding requirements by year and area of support. My Department is, as part of the 2021 Estimates process, engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to agree a mechanism for the provision of additional Covid-related funding required for schools for the remainder of 2021 (i.e. August/September to December 2021).

Summary breakdown of Estimated COVID-19 Financial Supports associated with the Roadmap for the Reopening of School for the School Year 2020/21

Provision

Total Costs 2020/21

Total Costs Aug/Sept –Dec 2020

Total Costs Jan – Jul/Aug 2021

Targeted Supports in Advance of Reopening: to facilitate preparatory works to be completed in schools for reopening including refurbishments/reconfigurations of school spaces and the set-up of hand sanitising stations and signage.

€79

€79m

€0m

Supports to Sustain Reopening: to fund additional teachers in schools, the replacement of teachers and non-teaching staff unable to attend work due to Covid-19, additional release days for teaching principals and deputy principals to implement Covid-19 measures, enhanced cleaning regimes and PPE equipment.

€346m

€126m

€220m

Other Costs to allow for the Safe reopening of Schools: to fund additional educational psychological services to provide for wellbeing supports for students and additional Covid supports for the transport of pupils on the school transport scheme (see note 1)

€12m

€6m

€6m

TOTAL

€437m

€211m

€226m

Note 1: Additional and as yet unquantified Covid-19 funding requirements are arising from the Government Decision of 18 August, on foot of the updated health advice received, to ensure the safe operation of school transport for post primary school children.

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