Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2004
290 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the statement of his predecessor in 2001 that there is a big gap to be bridged between the funding for secondary schools and other second level schools; the way in which he intends to bridge this gap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20453/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the traditional anomalies that have evolved in the funding arrangements for different school types at second level. At the core of all arrangements is a reliance upon capitation as the principle determinant of funding. There are however significant differences in the approaches to the funding of back-up services such as for secretaries and caretakers. This Government and its predecessor have removed some of the anomalies and the process continues.
The standard per capita grant for voluntary secondary schools has been significantly increased in recent years and now amounts to €274 per pupil as against the rate of €224.74 that applied in 1997. For disadvantaged schools, the increase has brought the per capita grant to €312 per pupil.
These significant increases builds on my commitment towards enhanced "equalisation" funding measures for voluntary secondary schools. In addition to the per capita grant of €25 that was introduced under the school services support initiative for second level schools in September 2000 and now stands at €99, secondary schools have benefited from further increases bringing the grant for such schools to €131 per pupil from January last. This per capita grant is in addition to a range of equalisation grants of up to some €15,500 per school per annum that were also approved for voluntary secondary schools. For a secondary school with 500 pupils, this amounts to additional “equalisation” funding of almost €30,000 per annum and overall additional support services funding of approximately €80,000 per annum. Schools are afforded considerable flexibility in the use of these resources to cater for the needs of their pupils. As the funding provided under the schools support services fund is flexible, schools are permitted discretion as to the manner in which support services are provided. In particular it allows schools with difficulties in provision for secretaries and caretakers the additional funding to make a meaningful impact.
A measure of the increase in overall funding for secondary schools is that by comparison with 1997, a secondary school with 500 pupils now receives extra annual funding of over €105,000 per annum.
I am committed to improving further the funding position of voluntary secondary schools in the light of available resources and to addressing the issue of equity highlighted by the voluntary school sector.
