Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 October 2004
182 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to reports that many schools are being forced to seek funding from charities, credit unions and banks to help support disadvantaged students; her views on this development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26112/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to improving the funding position of primary and second level schools in the light of available resources.
Significant improvements in the levels of direct funding of schools have been made in recent years. The standard rate of capitation grant for primary schools has been increased from €57 in 1997 to €121.58 per pupil from 1 January last, an increase of almost 113%. In the case of secondary schools, the standard per capita grant now amounts to €274 from 1 January last as against the rate of €224.74 that applied in 1997. In addition, the support grant that was introduced under the school services support initiative, was also increased from 1 January last and now stands at €131 per pupil. This increase is in addition to the range of equalisation grants of up to €15,554 per school per annum that was approved in December 2001.
Over the past 15 years, educational disadvantage has been a focal point for many initiatives and interventions in the form of specific measures and programmes on a school or area basis and as a result, schools serving disadvantaged communities, qualify for varying amounts of additional non-pay funding.
For instance, at primary level, under Giving Children an Even Break, schools are in receipt of a special €63.49 per capita grant paid in respect of the percentage of pupils with disadvantaged characteristics, with a minimum payment of €952.30 to each school. Designated disadvantaged schools also get a refund of their television licence fee. Under the urban phase of Breaking the Cycle, BTC, 32 schools receive annual grant assistance in addition to the above of €5,078.95 for out of school projects aimed at combating disadvantage, and €3,809.21 in respect of materials and equipment.
Under the rural phase of BTC, 120 schools receive annual grants of €1,269.74 for materials and equipment, and €1,269.74 for out of school projects.
A further initiative which was introduced in recent years is targeted at schools that suffer from very serious financial difficulties. Under this initiative, financial assistance has been granted to selected schools towards debt alleviation. In 2003, a sum of €519,000 was spent on debt alleviation.
At post-primary level, schools in the disadvantage areas scheme are in receipt of an additional capitation grant of €38.09 per capita.
The Estimates process is still under way. I will, in the context of that process, be seeking to secure additional resources for a number of areas, including educational disadvantage, with a view to building on the substantial investment which the Government is already making in this regard.
