Voluntary secondary schools receive financial assistance towards their running costs under the terms of free education scheme. The Department meets the cost of teacher salaries and allowances and makes an annual per capita grant towards the recurrent costs of these schools. In addition, these schools may also be eligible for assistance under a range of other grants available under the scheme including grants for the employment of caretakers and secretaries and curricular support.
Notwithstanding the many competing demands on budgetary resources, I have increased funding to the voluntary secondary school sector significantly since 1997. This year the standard per capita grant was increased by £7 with a further increase of £8 planned from September next year. The level of secretarial grants has also been increased in the period. Schools generally have benefited from the IT 2000 initiative and the library books grant. Schools have welcomed these improvements.
I am committed to improving further the funding position of voluntary secondary schools in the context of forthcoming budgets and in light of available resources.