John Lahart
Question:234. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education to explain the process in applying for funding for a four-teacher school (detail supplied); and any other advice she can offer in this matter. [20869/24]
View answerWednesday, 8 May 2024
Questions (234)
Written answers
The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.
The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board as outlined in the primary staffing circular 0011/2024 available on the Department website.
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 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 funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.
Correspondence issued to all schools on 26th April detailing the calculation of ancillary grant funding for 2024 and the ancillary grant is now paid to all schools.
I recently announced €50 million in grant funding for Information and Communications Technology (ICT), which has now issued to all recognised primary, Special Schools and post-primary schools. This ICT funding is being provided to schools to help them continue to use digital technologies in their teaching, learning and assessment and which represents the second tranche of ICT funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027