Claire Kerrane
Question:486. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if she will provide funding for a school initiative on waste disposal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56537/23]
View answerWednesday, 17 January 2024
Questions (486)
Written answers
My Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-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/SSSF grant 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/SSSF funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.
Ireland’s 2nd National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD to 2030) was published in June 2022 and aims to ensure that all learners have the knowledge and skills needed to promote Sustainable Development (SDG 4.7).
Under ESD to 2030, the Department of Education invited schools to apply for up to €5,000 in funding for ESD related projects in 2022 and again in September 2023. In October 2023, more than €550,000 was distributed to 129 schools across the country for projects ranging from school gardens to recycling initiatives to ESD related workshops and training for both students and teachers, a Fairtrade mini company project, bike stations, rainwater harvesting and composing systems and many other projects.
Details on the grantees are available on the ESD to 2030 webpage: gov.ie - National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development in Ireland (www.gov.ie). It is expected that a further call for schools for ESD funding will issue again at the start of the next school year in September 2024. Details of all funding opportunities related to ESD are included in the Departments quarterly ESD Newsletter (also available on the ESD to 2030 webpage) which is circulated to all schools via the esinet system. Schools can subscribe to receive the ESD Newsletter directly on the website.
The Department of Education also published a Sustainability Toolkit for schools in September 2023, including Sustainability Guidelines with an A – Z of sustainability ideas, useful links and resources.