Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Capitation Grants

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 May 2014

Thursday, 8 May 2014

Ceisteanna (60, 61, 62, 63)

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

60. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the primary school capitation grant per child for each of the past ten years and the supplementary rates for children in Gaelscoileanna and children with special needs for these years. [20687/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

61. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools receiving the ancillary services grant during each of the past five years. [20688/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

62. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the rates of capitation grant per pupil at secondary level; the rates of the special class grant, Irish and bilingual grant, Traveller capitation grant, for each of the past ten years. [20689/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

63. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools receiving a grant under the school services support fund during each of the past five years. [20690/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 to 63, inclusive, together.

My Department provides capitation funding to all recognised primary schools and post primary schools within the free education scheme. My Department provides funding to all recognised primary schools by way of per capita grants. Enhanced rates of capitation funding are paid in respect of children with special educational needs who attend special schools or special classes attached to mainstream schools. The Ancillary Services grant is paid to all recognised schools unless the school has been provided with secretarial and caretaking assistance under the 1978/1979 schemes. Under these schemes the secretary and/or caretaker are paid directly through the Department payroll. The funding arrangements made by my Department for post primary schools reflect the sectoral division of our second-level system. At the core of all arrangements is reliance upon capitation as the principal determinant of funding. My Department provides funding to Community and Comprehensive schools on a budget basis that is based mainly on pupil numbers, but also take into account additional factors which vary from school to school such as age of buildings, size of school etc. With regard to the ETB sector financial allocations are made to ETBs as part of a block grant. ETBs are given a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of this grant and each is allowed to distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and perceptions of need. My Department provides funding to voluntary secondary schools by way of per capita grants. Fee charging schools do not receive any capitation or related grants from my Department.

Information on the various per capita grant rates going back to 2004, as requested by the Deputy, is not readily available. My officials are currently compiling this information and it will be forwarded to the Deputy in due course.

Barr
Roinn