Peter Burke
Question:426. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education if she will review the capitation funding for schools (details supplied). [28029/22]
View answerTuesday, 31 May 2022
Questions (426)
Written answers
My Department provides funding to all recognised schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs including heating, lighting etc. and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. These grants may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.
The standard capitation grant rate for primary schools is €183 per pupil and the standard ancillary grant rate is €173 per pupil. Enhanced capitation rates are payable in respect of pupils attending special schools, including the school referred to by the Deputy and for special classes attached to mainstream schools to assist with the extra costs associated with the running costs of classrooms with a small number of pupils operating specialist provision. These rates range from €469 to €903 per pupil depending on the particular level of need involved and are outlined in Circular 0038/2020 on my Departments website at www.gov.ie/en/circular/b99b9-revision-of-capitation-grant-rates-for-recognised-primary-schools-in-2020/.
The ancillary grant is paid to Special Schools based on the number of authorised fulltime teaching staff approved by the Department. The rates are outlined in Circular 0017/2021 also on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/circular/17595-revision-of-grant-rates-in-2021-for-boards-of-management-of-recognised-primary-schools-or-by-etbs-in-community-national-schools-using-ancillary-services-grant-funding/.
I understand the need for improved capitation funding and I am pleased that budget 2020 was able to provide for a further 2.5% increase in standard capitation funding for 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. 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.