Vol. 497 No. 5
355 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to introduce equitable funding into the school system to ensure that all schools of the same size and pupil and area profile have the same funding. [25681/98]
The way in which resources are provided to second-level schools reflects the different management and ownership arrangements for vocational schools and community colleges, community and comprehensive schools and voluntary secondary schools. Consequently, direct comparison between the different sectors is difficult.
The financial allocations for vocational schools and community colleges are made to the vocational education committees as part of a block grant which also covers the VEC overheads and other activities apart from the second-level programme. Voluntary secondary schools are funded on a per capita basis based upon enrolments while the annual budget for community and comprehensive schools takes into account factors which vary from school to school.
The matter of equity of funding between the various sectors at second-level is currently being examined by a steering group on funding which has available to it the report of a technical working group. Under its terms of reference, the group will draw up a recommended funding framework designed to ensure equal treatment for different schools within the second-level sector while taking account of the needs of these different schools. The group's recommendations when available will inform future developments in relation to the funding of schools.
