Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 May 2006
516 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which the average running costs paid per pupil in the vocational educational committee, community and comprehensive schools and secondary voluntary schools compare over each of the past five years. [16542/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra518 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the trend in second level pupil capitation payments over the past five years; and the way in which this compares with the CSO price index of second level education costs. [16544/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra521 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on closing the gap between non-teacher funding of second level voluntary schools and community and comprehensive schools in terms of current and of capital spending. [16547/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 516, 518 and 521 together.
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 & Community schools and Voluntary Secondary schools.
At the core of funding arrangements at second level is a reliance upon capitation as the principal determinant of funding. Voluntary secondary schools, in the Free Education scheme, which are privately owned and managed, are funded by way of per capita grants. Financial allocations for Vocational schools and Community colleges are made to the VECs as part of a block grant which also covers the VEC head-office overheads and other activities apart from the second-level programme. Community & Comprehensive schools are funded on a budget basis. Schools and VECs have considerable discretion as to how this funding is best utilised in the interests of pupils.
There have been significant improvements in the level of funding provided for voluntary secondary schools. Since 2001 the standard per capita grant has been increased by a cumulative €54 per pupil and currently stands at €298 per pupil. In addition, secondary schools have benefitted under the school services support initiative. The initial grant of €25 per pupil that was introduced for second level schools in September 2000 now stands at €159 per pupil since January last. These grants are in addition to the per capita funding of up to €40,000 per school that is also provided by my Department to secondary schools towards secretarial and caretaking services. A secondary school with 500 pupils, for example, now receives annual grants of up to €270,000 towards general expenses and support services. Budget allocations for the VEC and Community and Comprehensive sectors are increased on a pro rata basis with increases in the per capita grant.
On the capital front, a limited number of schools in the post-primary sector receive funding in any given year. Second level schools apply to my Department for funding for major projects (new schools, extensions and major refurbishments) and for funding for minor works under the Summer Works Scheme.
In each case applications are processed in the context of established criteria and successful applicant schools are selected on the basis of compliance with the criteria and not on school type.
I understand that the Central Statistics Office (CSO) Consumer Price Index is a measure of the average level of prices paid for consumer goods and services by all private households in the country and by foreign tourists holidaying in Ireland. The CSO index is a pure price index and therefore measures price changes only. A comparison therefore between the consumer price index and capitation grants during the period in question is not a valid comparison, because capitation and support services grants are provided to meet the ongoing operating costs of second level schools.
These significant increases in the funding of secondary schools are a clear demonstration of my commitment to prioritise available resources to address the needs of schools.
