Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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62. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she intends to increase core funding for primary schools and special schools to ensure that these schools meet their operational costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27214/24]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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It is a simple enough question. Does the Minister for Education intend to increase core funding for primary schools and special schools to ensure they can meet operational costs?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department’s voted estimate for capital and current expenditure for 2024 stands at €10.9 billion. This represents an increase of over €2.8 billion or 35% since 2019, which is significant. This is the third largest budget across government, and the largest ever investment in our schools. It indicates the strong commitment to investment in education by this Government.

In the lead-up to the 2025 budget, as Minister for Education I will continue to deliver on the priorities outlined in the programme for Government and to support students, staff and families in the education sector. Over the past four years, I have delivered substantial increases in investment in our education system and I remain committed to the vision of a world-class education system for all.

My Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme 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 and general upkeep, and the ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding, which is provided for general running costs, and ancillary funding, which is provided for caretaking and secretarial services, as a common grant from which the board of management can allocate according to its priorities.

The current standard rate of capitation grant is €183 per pupil in primary schools. Enhanced rates are also paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils. Primary schools also receive an ancillary services grant. The standard rate is €173 per pupil in primary schools. Primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils are paid the full capitation and the ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils.

In addition to these grants, €20 million in funding was issued in October 2023 to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme. This funding was the first tranche of an overall additional €60 million funding announced as part of budget 2024 measures designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day costs. A further €40 million in funding was delivered earlier this year.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The overall spend is very high, and rightly so, because this is about education, which is fundamental to every person in the country. Focusing on primary schools and national schools, the big problem is that there was a cut to the capitation grant. Basically, that cut has not been restored. Looking at the capitation grant for national schools compared to what is available for secondary schools, there is a big difference. At the end of the day, we are trying to make sure national schools have a proper, clean school that has heat and can actually work in a nice environment. We do not want the current situation in which boards of management are taking money from their reserves to try to fund the day-to-day operations of their school. It is important that this is looked at and that an increase is put into the capitation grant to try to meet the operational costs of the schools.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate there are challenges right across society and particularly in our schools. In recognition of that, we have seen, as I have outlined, an almost 35% increase being made available to the Department of Education in the budget. We currently have €10.9 billion, which is the third highest allocation across Government Departments. On foot of that, we have seen a considerable increase in capitation grants, as I have already referenced. For example, the standard €183 given per pupil now rises to €200 per pupil in budget 2024. There has been an additional €21 million provided for a permanent restoration of capitation funding. We have also ensured additional funding: €20 million was paid out in 2023 and an additional €40 million was paid out to schools to rely on for their priorities and needs. There are also other initiatives through which we are ensuring that primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils still get the full capitation grant as if they had 60 pupils.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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While I appreciate that, I will say again that the funding for primary schools, and their capacity to be able to run the schools, has fallen back seriously based on the capitation grants they have now. Part of that is because inflation has come into being. Heating, electricity and insurance costs have all risen substantially. While I acknowledge there was a one-off payment, schools need a more permanent basis for additional funding rather than one-off payments. It is important for them to know where they are going year in, year out. That is very important. We talk globally about the figures but we need to, with the goodwill of the Department, focus on the primary schools I see and which are coming to me. They are under severe stress trying to deal with the financial constraints they have while also trying to keep their schools up to a standard at which they deserve to be.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Canney. I appreciate his personal engagement on this matter. In the context of permanent increases, €21 million was secured in the budget. From 2024, that €21 million is ensuring the rate goes from €183 per pupil to €200 per pupil at primary level. That is a significant step forward in terms of a permanent increase in the core. Equally, other than the capitation grant, there are many other sources of support being provided to schools. I am not at all underestimating the challenges they have. Minor works, emergency works and summer work schemes are all paid out. There is a variety of sources of grant support. We equally have a dedicated financial supports services unit, FSSU, which is available to schools if they have particular challenges. I absolutely accept the work of schools is a challenge. From a Department of Education viewpoint, we want to work with schools and ensure the supports are in place, like the FSSU, if they have particular challenges.