Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 31 May 2018
81. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding allocated to a centre (details supplied) to rent its building from the LCETB; the amount of funding allocated to the LCETB; his plans to net off the rental funding against the LCETB allocation in view of issues in regard to car parking allocations for the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24009/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department allocates €120,000 per annum to Limerick Education Centre to rent accommodation from Limerick and Clare ETB (LCETB).
Separately, my Department provides funding to LCETB for the pay of certain ETB staff (including teachers), funding for the day-to-day running of schools, specific grants (e.g. book grant, transition year programme), targeted expenditure (e.g. DEIS funding), funding for student grants, funding for capital projects and head office running costs. The general non-pay budget is provided as a block grant and is made up of direct funding from the Department as well as certain receipts retained by the ETB.
ETBs also receive funding from sources other than my Department, for example through self-financing programmes or from other Departments and agencies, most notably for further education and training which is funded by SOLAS.
Details of funding under the various headings are provided in the Annual Financial Statements of the ETB which are laid in the Houses of the Oireachtas.
I understand that in 2016, LCETB erected a barrier in the car park which has reduced the parking spaces available to the Education Centre. It is a matter for LCETB to appropriately manage in line with best practice, all issues regarding upkeep, maintenance and security of any property including car parks under its remit. In those circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to net off the rental funding to Limerick Education Centre against the general funding allocated to LCETB.
