Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2023
266. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education the current ancillary grant given to national schools that have a capacity of over 500 students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46193/23]
View answerMy Department provides funding to recognised Primary 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 such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the Ancillary to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff.
Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant which is outlined in Circular 40/2009.
As the Deputy is aware, an agreement was reached between my Department and Fórsa on improved terms and conditions for grant funded secretaries. Further details are available in Circular 0036/2022.
The amount paid to an individual primary school for capitation and ancillary services is determined by the school’s enrolment. Both of these grants are subject to minimum enrolments and therefore the grant paid to schools with an enrolment of equal to or less than 60 pupils is based on an enrolment of 60 pupils.
The Ancillary Services Grant is subject to a maximum enrolment of 500 pupils. Therefore schools with enrolments of 500 or more are paid this grant based on an enrolment of 500 pupils. There is no maximum limit on the Capitation Grant.
In 2023 the Capitation Grant rate is €183 per pupil and the Ancillary Services Grant rate is €173 per pupil. The 500 pupil cap on the Ancillary Services Grant equates to a maximum grant of €86,500. Within the context of limitations on available resources, this level of funding is considered a reasonable amount to cater for the secretarial and caretaking needs of a large school.
