Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 April 2012
61 Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if provision will be made to assist schools in difficulty as a consequence of the cut in capitation grants to schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19422/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware Budget 2012 provided for a 2% reduction in the funding for capitation and related grants to primary and second level schools in both 2012 and 2013 and a further 1% in 2014 and 2015. Due to my decision of 21st February last, to retain posts from previous disadvantage schemes in DEIS Band 1 and Band 2 primary schools, it was necessary to generate alternative savings within the primary education budget. This has been achieved by bringing forward to this year 1.5% of the 2% reduction in overall capitation funding originally scheduled for 2013. Given the scale of our economic crisis, these necessary but difficult expenditure reduction measures cannot be revisited. I have no scope to introduce new or additional funding measures to assist schools.
