Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 8 Jun 2000

Vol. 520 No. 5

Written Answers. - Schools Funding.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

165 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education and Science the procedures available to schools to avail of additional support or moneys from his Department where such a school is experiencing difficulties, especially where a school can not make up the shortfall between the capitation and other grants and the actual cost of running the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16227/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

Funding arrangements at second level reflect the different traditions and structures of the voluntary secondary, community and comprehensive and VEC sectors. In the case of voluntary secondary schools in the free education scheme, which are privately managed institutions, my Department meets the cost of teachers salaries and allowances and makes an annual per capita grant towards recurrent costs.

I am satisfied that my recent announcement of the introduction of a school services support fund at second level from next September is a significant initiative in the funding of our schools. Schools will now receive additional annual funding of £20 per pupil with a minimum payment of £4,000 per school. This fund will channel an additional £4 million to voluntary secondary schools each year. The flexibility given to schools under this initiative will be supported by the putting in place of guidelines, which will strike the right balance between allowing a reasonable level of discretion and achieving the implementation of national policy priorities. In addition, secondary schools will also benefit from a further increase in the standard per capita grant. The grant was increased to £184 from £177 last year with a further increase of £8 planned for this year. Schools have welcomed these improvements.

Primary schools' running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants and the local contribution. These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of national schools which would include heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, painting, teaching aids and other miscellaneous charges. The capitation grant has been increased substantially since the Government assumed office in 1997. It was increased by £5 in 1998 and £10 in 1999, bringing the standard grant to £60 per pupil. This constitutes an increase of 33% over that period. In addition, the grant will be increased by a further £11 by the end of the 2000-01 school year. Furthermore, an additional grant of £30 per pupil is paid in respect of all pupils of primary schools designated as disadvantaged.

In addition, my Department is further extending the scheme of additional capitation grants for secretarial and caretaking assistance with effect from September 2000. This will mean that for the first time all primary schools will receive grant aid towards secretarial and caretaking services. Furthermore over the past two years all primary schools have received grants for materials for infant classes, science materials, library books and reading materials, the purchase of which would previously have had to be made from the normal capitation funding.

I would add however that the running costs of primary schools are not budgeted for individually by my Department and it would not be feasible to grant aid over 3,000 schools in such a manner. The rules of procedure for boards of management of primary schools specifically state that overdrafts or other forms of debts or excesses of expenditure over income must be approved by the patron, and should be avoided except for limited periods, and where the board is satisfied that the overdraft or debt can be cleared by the board. Therefore where a school board of management has incurred expenditure in excess of its income, it is a matter for the board of management, if necessary in consultation with the patron, to address the matter.

I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to an equitable and fair funding regime for primary and second level schools and I will continue to prioritise available resources to address the needs of schools.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

166 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education and Science the support available from his Department to St. Paul's special school, Beaumont, Dublin 9; if he will outline their current needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16228/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

My Department has sanctioned a principal and seven teaching posts to the school referred to by the Deputy. The school also has the service of two special needs assistants. Enhanced capitation funding is paid to the school management to assist with the running costs of the school.

My Department is currently reviewing the child care needs of all schools catering for children with special needs. The objective is to ensure that all such schools have access to the level of child care support recommended by the special education review committee.

It is expected that this review, which will be completed shortly, will result in the allocation of additional child care support to the school in question.