Thomas Byrne
Ceist:291. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of a 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% increase in capitation grant to community and comprehensive schools. [31271/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 11 July 2019
Ceisteanna (291)
Freagraí scríofa
I fully recognise the need to improve capitation funding for schools.
I am pleased to have been able to provide for a 5% increase in capitation funding for primary and post primary schools that will apply from the start of the 2019/20 school year. The first and full year costs of this increase is €4 million and €10 million respectively.
The estimated cost of restoring capitation by 10% in Community and Comprehensive schools is circa €1.6 million.
The estimated cost of restoring capitation by 15% in Community and Comprehensive schools is circa €2.4 million.
The estimated cost of restoring capitation by 20% in Community and Comprehensive schools is circa €3.1 million.
I must be prudent in the context of ongoing budgetary pressures. Where it is not possible to do everything that I would like to do in the education sector in any one year I have to prioritise, especially in the context of increasing enrolments.
It is my intention to seek funding for further capitation increases in future budgets.