Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 November 2022
82. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 562 of 8 November 2022, if a circular will be sent to schools with information on additional capitation funding and additional grants that could be used to cover day-to-day operating costs and energy costs in lieu of voluntary contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57799/22]
View answerIt was a very significant achievement to have secured €9.6 billion for Education in Budget 23. This funding allows many ground-breaking investments in our education system, furthering the work of recent years, for example class sizes, tackling disadvantage, reducing costs for families, and supporting the achievement of all our students.
As part of the Cost of Living measures introduced in the Budget, €90 million is being provided in once-off additional funding to support increased running costs for recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme, in particular in dealing with challenges they face in the light of rising energy costs.
The additional funding of €10 million for a fuel contribution to the School Transport Scheme operators is also a cost of living measure, in response to the impact that rising energy costs will have on school transport scheme services. Funding in the amount of €10m is being paid as a fuel contribution to bus contractors operating under contract to Bus Éireann for the operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme during the 2022/23 school year. This funding is in line with the contribution that was paid for term 2 and term 3 of the 2021/22 school year. It will mitigate against the continued high cost of fuel in order ensure continuity of school transport scheme services.
In addition to this 40% increase in grants funding in Budget 2023 to cover increased running costs, the Department of Education has been supporting schools to access lower prices for some time.
Significant work has been carried out at Department level in order to support all schools in their procurement and use of energy supplies.
The Department has ensured in recent years that centrally negotiated rates were made available to schools for electricity and bulk heating fuels through frameworks sourced by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). Central rates are fixed for gas and electricity for those availing of those arrangements at present.
A significant number of schools have engaged with this, and they are availing of highly competitive energy prices. It is planned to run future competitions to ensure that bulk rates continue to be available from 2024 onwards. Information on how to avail of these arrangements is available via the Schools Procurement Unit.
A suite of guidance and advice is currently available to schools about ways to reduce energy consumption during the school day, and the Department will be looking at what additional advice is required to align with the overall approach being adopted by Government in relation to energy savings in public buildings while recognising the unique nature of schools in terms of opening hours.
My Department will be issuing a circular to schools setting out the arrangements in relation to the Once-off Additional Capitation grant announced as part of the cost of living measures in Budget 2023. This circular will be issued in the coming weeks. Schools have already received over €200 million in capitation payments.
