Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1165. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if her Department has explored the feasibility of making education truly free of charge; if this will be a priority area for budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41823/22]
View answerI am supportive of all measures which support students and their families. A range of measures are in place to support access to education.
As the Deputy is aware, the Government has increased capitation funding for all schools over the last few years, and further improving capitation funding will also be a priority area for Budget 2023.
The Department of Education provides a book grant to all recognised primary and post-primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books including Book Rental Schemes. Under this scheme, the Department provided funding of €17.2 million in 2021 to all of these schools. Schools participating in the Department’s DEIS Programme receive an enhanced rate of book grant.
The Minister for Education has announced that students availing of the school transport scheme will not be charged fees for the academic year 2022/23. This measure removes all costs of ticket for all categories of student. Any family that has already made a payment for school transport for the 2022/23 school year will be refunded.
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is being increased by €100 for each eligible child under the scheme. Consequently, the amount being paid for each qualified child aged 4–11 years will be €260 and the rate payable for each eligible child aged 12 and over will be €385. It is estimated that some 151,000 families will benefit from this measure in respect of over 262,000 children.
