Vol. 573 No. 3
360 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the current rate of capitation payments to voluntary secondary schools; and if he will compare this to the rate payable for students in schools operating under the VEC system. [25293/03]
The funding arrangements made by my Department for second level schools reflect the different management and ownership arrangements for vocational schools and community colleges, comprehensive and community schools and voluntary secondary schools.
At the core of funding arrangements at second level is reliance upon capitation as the principal determinant of funding. Voluntary secondary schools are funded on a per capita grant basis. 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 head office overheads and other activities apart from the second level programme. The Department does not earmark allocations for individual schools or for the various activities of vocational education committees. The way in which the grant is distributed among schools is a matter for each committee in line with their priorities and perceptions of need.
