My Department provides funding to Primary and Post-Primary schools by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the Ancillary/School Services Support Fund (SSSF) to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools also receive a range of other grants including Book Grants, Programme grants etc.
In addition, under the COVID-19 response plans, a range of supports are being made available to all recognised schools in the free education scheme which include additional financial supports to provide for Cleaning, PPE and hand hygiene, Enhanced Supervision and the employment of aides.
€503.6m of capitation related grant funding is allocated to primary and post-primary schools in 2021 which includes €91.7m for Covid-19 grants.