Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
420. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to restore primary school capitation grants to pre-recession levels which would see an increase in the region of €30 million; and his views on whether many schools are struggling to meet day to day costs at the current levels. [31800/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI 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.
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.
