Skip to main content
Normal View

School Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2021

Wednesday, 10 November 2021

Questions (144)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

144. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the amount provided in capitation grants nationally in each of the past ten years to date; the amount forecasted to be granted in 2022 and 2023; and if she has factored Covid-19 into her budgeting for capitation. [55134/21]

View answer

Written answers

My Department provides capitation funding to all recognised primary schools and post primary schools within the free education scheme. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the Ancillary grants to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff.  I understand the need for improved capitation funding and I am pleased that budget 2020 has been able to provide for a further 2.5% increase in standard capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools that applied from the start of the 2020/21 school year. This builds on the 5% increase in capitation announced in budget 2019. The combined increases given in 2019 and 2020 mean that circa 40% restoration has been 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. 

Details of the amount provided in capitation related grants nationally in each of the past ten years to date is provided in the table at the following link and includes the additional Covid-19 Capitation funding provided in 2020.

Capitation Grants

Capitation grants payable in 2022 and 2023 will be determined by the per capita rate at the time and the recognised enrolments on 30 September 2020 and 2021 respectively.

It is a key objective of the Government’s plan for living with COVID-19 (Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19) that our children and school staff can attend school safely. My Department has always been guided by public health advice in relation to the infection prevention and control measure appropriate for schools. The range of supports being made available to all recognised schools in the free education scheme to support implementation of these measures include additional financial supports, totalling €216 million to date, to provide for Enhanced Cleaning and Supervision, PPE and hand hygiene costs under the COVID-19 response plans. My Department will consider the funding requirements for 2022 and 2023 in light of the public health advice in place at that time.

Top
Share