Tuesday, 11 Jun 2024

School Staff

Questions (301)

Seán Canney

Question:

301. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education when the NCSE will publish the SNA allocation for the year 2024/2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25032/24]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs).

SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management of the school. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated.

It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.

Circular 0049/2024 was published on the Departments website on 29th May and it confirmed for schools their SNA allocation for 2024/25. The circular is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/circular/2d295-special-needs-assistant-allocation-202425/.

This Circular outlines that in relation to the allocation of SNA support for students in mainstream classes for 2024/25 the following arrangements will apply:

a) The SNA allocations for mainstream classes in schools on 31st May 2024 will be the initial allocation for the 2024/2025 school year.

b) Where a school identifies a significant increase in care needs, additional resources can be provided to support the school, following a request for review by the school with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

c) A process for schools where they consider their SNA allocation to be in excess of the required care needs will be administered through the NCSE. Schools should contact their local NCSE special educational needs organiser (SENO) to commence this process.

Following the publication of the circular the NCSE undertook to inform each school individually of their SNA allocation for the 2024/25 school year.

When this process is complete the NCSE will update their website with the list of SNA allocations for the 2024/25 school year.

School Transport

Questions (302)

Peter Fitzpatrick

Question:

302. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Education if assistance will be provided to secure school transport arrangements under the school transport scheme for a school in Stonetown, County Louth (details supplied) in order that this school can remain open to the public; her plans to utilise this schools capacity to enrol children given the shortage of places in schools in Dundalk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25041/24]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.

Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.

All school transport services are reviewed over the summer months. Arising from this review, routes may be altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

In cases where the Department is satisfied that the nearest/next nearest schools are full, eligibility for school transport will be determined based on the distance the pupil resides from their next nearest school having regard to ethos and language.

If families have applied to attend their nearest school in regards to ethos and language and have been advised by the school authorities that it is full, my Department will consider if students can be deemed eligible for transport to the next nearest school(s).

To establish that the nearest schools are full parents must provide:-

• The steps taken to enrol their child in the nearest and next nearest schools

• Evidence that an application for enrolment was made within the deadline dates specified by the school and

• A letter from the School Authorities confirming that the school was full at the time of enrolment.

These families can submit details to the School Transport Section in the Department of Education at school_transport@education.gov.ie .

The closing date for new applications was 26th April 2024. The closing date for payment/entering medical details for tickets for the 2024/25 school year is Friday 7th June 2024. As the application and payment dates have now closed, Bus Éireann will assess the applications and payments received and will begin planning for services for the upcoming school year.

School Funding

Questions (303)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

303. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education the reason the ancillary grant for a school (details supplied) has been reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25046/24]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

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 up-keep and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities, except for cases where a secretary is now paid from my Department’s payroll as per circular 36/2022.

The current standard rate of Capitation grant is €183 per pupil at Primary level and this year's grant is being paid, as usual, in 2 instalments, - the first in January and the second in June, for the 2023/24 academic year. Enhanced rates of capitation are also paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Traveller pupils.

Primary schools with less than 60 pupils are paid the Capitation and the Ancillary grants based on having 60 pupils.

As part of the capitation package in Budget 2024 I am pleased to have secured €21 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This will support a permanent restoration of funding for all primary and post-primary schools from September 2024. This will bring the basic rate of capitation grant to the pre-2011 level of €200 per student in primary schools. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs. This represents an increase of circa 9.2% of current standard and enhanced capitation rates.

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 is 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 running costs such as heating and electricity. A further €40 million in funding was delivered in early 2024.

As the Deputy may be aware, following the acceptance by Fórsa of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) agreement in respect of salaries and various leave entitlements for grant-funded school secretaries, those secretaries who accepted the terms of this agreement were placed on a payroll operated by my Department from September 2023. Therefore, ancillary related grant funding has been revised to reflect the fact that schools are no longer paying these salaries directly.

The arrangements for the 2023/24 school year are based on reducing grants by the value of the salary schools paid to grant-funded secretaries prior to their acceptance of the new terms and conditions. Schools provided my Department with these details and this information is now being used to reduce the ancillary related grant funding.

Correspondence issued to all schools on 20th December 2023 providing details of these arrangements for the period September to December 2023. Further correspondence issued on 26th April 2024 setting out the position for the period January to August 2024.

Schools have been advised that work is ongoing to identify a method of standardising the reduction to the Ancillary and SSSF Grants for the longer term, where school secretaries are being paid via a payroll operated by my Department. Engagement will take place with school management bodies to discuss these arrangements to ensure that they are as reasonable and as fair as possible for all schools and further details of these arrangements will be provided to schools as soon as they become available.

The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by my Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cashflow management. Officials from my Department have been in contact with the FSSU on behalf of the school referred to by the Deputy. A member of staff from the FSSU will be in contact with the school in the coming days. The school can contact the FSSU directly on 01-9104020 for more information.

School Facilities

Questions (304)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

304. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position with respect to an application from a school (details supplied) in County Cork for reconfiguration works to existing school accommodation for SEN purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25053/24]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

I can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question has submitted an application for capital funding, under my department's Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for reconfiguration of existing school accommodation to provide for one special education classroom.

The purpose of the Additional Schools' Accommodation scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other schools in the area.

In general, demographics are falling at primary level and this trend is due to continue. Therefore the Department of Education in conjunction with the National Council for Special Education considers it prudent to maximise the use of existing spare accommodation capacity in National Schools within a general area in the first instance. This consideration is prior to the establishment of any additional special class that may require additional accommodation e.g. modular accommodation.

This approach can enable a special class to be established more quickly for the coming academic year as it is not bound by the provision of additional accommodation. This then means that the educational needs of children who require a specialist placement can be met at more easily. It may also allow for the earlier re-configuration of existing accommodation to occur in a more streamlined and efficient manner.

This overall approach is consistent with the Department’s commitment to supporting the educational needs of children who require specialist placements while at the same time meeting the requirements of the Government’s Infrastructure Guidelines.

Schools’ support for the establishment of special classes is most welcome. Where additional accommodation is indicated as being required, an analysis of both student demand and available accommodation in an area is required. In this regard, the Department is working very closely with the NCSE to ensure that this required analysis is thoroughly explored with a view to providing the most immediate and cost effective accommodation solutions for the establishment of new special classes for the 2024/25 school year.

Since 2020, my department has invested in the region of €4.8 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 30 new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn.

In Cork County alone, in the period 2020 to April 2024, there has been €593.82 million spent on projects in construction, in the pipeline & on completions. This includes 118 school building projects completed, 23 projects in construction, 8 projects at tender stage and 25 projects currently at detailed design stage.

The application for the school in question is being considered in this context and I can assure the Deputy that we are working to get a decision communicated to the school as soon as possible.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (305)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

305. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education to respond to a query on July provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25058/24]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

Details of the 2024 Summer Programme were published on the 21st March 2024. This builds on the successful summer programmes of the last three years. The full funding of €40m is available and, as in previous years, all of the funding is utilised to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children.

All schools have an opportunity to run a programme over the summer months for those children who need it the most so that these children can continue to be supported, nurtured and encouraged to engage in a fun and inclusive educational setting.

The main priority again in 2024 is that those children with the most complex special educational needs, especially in special schools, should have access to a school-based summer programme.

The Home-based programme is also available for pupils with complex special educational needs in circumstances where their school is not running a Summer Programme or a place on a school-based programme is unavailable. Details of the Home-based programme, including full details on the eligibility criteria, were issued to schools directly on the 29th May 2024 and has been published on www.gov.ie/summerprogramme .

It is a matter for individual schools to assess whether a child meets the eligibility criteria as set out in the terms and conditions of the school or home-based provision being applied for. If the school determines that the child does not meet the eligibility criteria, there are no alternative ways in which parent can access the Summer Programme.

A Department helpline is available for schools and parents at 090 648 4292 to address any specific queries regarding year’s Summer Programme. Queries concerning the school-based scheme can be directed to the schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie. Queries concerning the Home-based scheme can be directed to the homebasedsummerprogram@education.gov.ie .

Child Abuse

Questions (306)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

306. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education when she will implement the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights no. 35810/09, ECHR 2014-I under Article 46(2) of the European Convention on Human Rights in O’Keeffe v Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25076/24]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

A range of measures have been put in place to implement the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgement in O’Keeffe v Ireland.

These include the commencement of the Children First Act 2015 which provides for mandatory reporting by key professionals; Implementation of the Vetting Acts 2012 -2016 which set out statutory vetting requirements for persons working with children and vulnerable adults, including those working in schools; revised Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017, which significantly strengthen the oversight role of the Department’s Inspectorate and the Department more generally in relation to schools’ compliance with child protection procedures.

My Department has also put in place a range of training and oversight measures to provide for additional awareness and compliance with the Children First Act and Child Protection Procedures when dealing with allegations/suspicion of child abuse and neglect.

In addition, my Department has implemented an ex gratia scheme to provide compensation to individuals falling within the scope of the O’Keeffe judgement. The scheme, which was devised to ensure implementation of the ECtHR judgement, provided those who had instituted legal proceedings against the State in respect of day school sexual abuse, and subsequently discontinued those proceedings following rulings in the domestic courts, with an opportunity to apply for an ex gratia payment of €84,000.

The scheme was established in 2015 and paused in 2019 following a report from the Independent Assessor Mr. Justice Iarflaith O'Neill. A revised ex gratia scheme, which broadened the scope of the Scheme and the type and nature of evidence that could be considered by the State Claims Agency in respect of individual applications, operated from 21 July 2021 to 20 July 2023. A total of 193 applications were received. Of these, 128 applications were approved and 65 refused. Over €11m has been spent on the scheme, of which €10.75m has issued to the applicants as ex gratia payments, with the remainder providing for legal costs and the appeals process.

Finally, I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides regular updates to the Council of Europe regarding Ireland's implementation of the ECtHR judgement. The latest Action Plan in relation to the implementation of the judgement is available on my Department's website @ www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/283438/97182703-58a4-44dd-a784-7d6461f6939d.pdf#page=null.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (307)

Denis Naughten

Question:

307. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 178 of 16 May 2024 if she will consider funding an ASD class at a school (details suppled); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25084/24]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

I understand that this is an anxious time for parents who are seeking a school place for their child for September and I would like to assure the Deputy that this government is determined to alleviate the pressures faced by parents when seeking a special educational placement.

In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has advised my department that the local special educational needs organiser (SENO) is in ongoing contact with the school in relation to opening a new special class, possibly for the 2025/2026 school year.

My department and the NCSE work closely in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places, work which is close to finalisation for the 2024/25 school year. Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally using the details on the NCSE's website.

In relation to places for the coming 2024/2025 school year, the NCSE have sanctioned just over 350 new special classes. Of these, 8 are in Roscommon, 7 at primary level and 1 at post primary level. This brings the overall number of special classes in Co. Roscommon to 49.

The NCSE expect to confirm some additional classes very shortly to ensure that a sufficient level of provision is available to meet the needs of children known to the NCSE. The NCSE are now confident that through the provision of these classes and some vacancies in existing classes there are sufficient places to meet the needs of children known to them for September 2024.

I have asked the NCSE to ensure that any remaining classes are established as a matter of urgency and to keep all families seeking class places updated on an ongoing basis to ensure their children can access the provision to which they are entitled.

I referenced earlier that this government is committed to alleviating the pressures faced by parents seeking a special educational placement.

Significant additional resources and funding of €13 million have been allocated to the NCSE to allow for the expansion of its services, which will bolster the level of service and provide effective structures to relieve pressure on parents.

This funding has allowed for, among other things, a significant increase in the number of SENOs which will increase from 73 to 120 by next September. These SENOs will work closely with children, their families and schools on the ground in order to provide the necessary supports.

Additional administrative support staff, team managers and other professionals are also being employed to allow SENOs concentrate on working directly with schools and families.

School Textbooks

Questions (308)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

308. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will issue exceptional funding to a school (details supplied) given the increased strain in trying to meet the costs associated with the shortfall of the schoolbooks grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25123/24]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

In Budget 2024 over €47 million was allocated to continue implementation of the schoolbooks scheme at primary level. On the 8th May I announced details of year 2 of the Primary Schoolbooks Scheme which provides at a minimum free schoolbooks, workbooks, and copybooks to pupils in recognised primary and special schools. More than 555,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools will continue to benefit from this scheme.

As outlined in the guidance published in 2023, the schoolbook grant for 2023 was calculated based on validated September 2022 enrolment figures. The guidance was informed by the engagements with all relevant stakeholders.

Funding for Exceptional Cases as outlined in the guidance catered for schools who may have received a number of pupils after 30th September. My Department received correspondence from a small number of primary schools over the course of the year, requesting additional funding where a significant increase in enrolments had occurred and the school could not meet the costs of the books from within the original funding allocation.

Those schools were contacted and the Department requests for exceptional case funding were considered on a case-by-case basis. I can confirm that correspondence was received by this school in late 2023, but the Department did not receive a response from the school following a request for additional information. As such my Department was not in a position to finalise processing of the application. Officials from my Department will make further contact with this school to clarify the position.

Revised guidance for the 2024/25 school year was published on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/schoolbookschemes and has issued to schools.There is an exceptional circumstances funding provision under the scheme, the rules of which are outlined in Section 5.5 of the published guidance.

As part of the on-going evaluation of the scheme, all schools will be asked to provide data on their expenditure in order to inform the guidance, implementation, costs and efficiency of the scheme for future years.

School Textbooks

Questions (309)

Pauline Tully

Question:

309. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education the reason that the schoolbooks grant was greatly reduced this year compared to last year. [25137/24]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

In Budget 2024 over €47 million was allocated to continue implementation of the schoolbooks scheme at primary level. On the 8th May I announced details of year 2 of the Primary Schoolbooks Scheme which provides at a minimum free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks to pupils in recognised primary and special schools. More than 555,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools will continue to benefit from this scheme.

Revised guidance for the 2024/25 school year was published on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/schoolbookschemes and has issued to schools.

As the scheme is now implemented in every recognised primary and special school it is expected that schools have used the funding provided in the 2023/24 school year to purchase stocks of schoolbooks and other classroom resources. Many of these items are now available to schools for reuse in the 2024/25 school year and in future school years. The funding allocated to the scheme in the 2024/25 school year takes account of this.

Schools have received €80 per pupil enrolled as of September 2023. It is open to schools to look at their requirements and plan their budget across each of the years collectively. They may choose to spend more than €80 per pupil in one class and in turn, spend less than that per pupil in another class. In other words, while schools receive the money at the same per capita rate for all pupils they can choose to spread that expenditure differently across the years depending on the requirements. Special schools that have students enrolled in Junior Cycle programmes have received funding at the Junior Cycle per capita rate set out under the new Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme.

As part of the on-going evaluation of the scheme, all schools will be asked to provide data on their expenditure in order to inform the guidance, implementation, costs and efficiency of the scheme for future years.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (310)

Leo Varadkar

Question:

310. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education if she will request her officials to move a school rebuilding project (details supplied) to stage 2B; or if not will she ask her officials to meet the school authorities to agree a timeline for the project to advance. [25153/24]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

The current position in respect of the joint major building project referred to by the Deputy is as follows;

The Design Team submitted their Stage 2(a) Submission report to my Department in January 2024 for review, in advance of the Stakeholders meeting, which was scheduled for Wednesday 14th February 2024.

Upon review, some key concerns were identified by Department officials, and the school authorities and Design Team were advised in advance that the Stakeholders meeting would instead be a further interim Stage 2(a) workshop to discuss and assist the Design Team in progressing their Stage 2(a) submission in a positive manner.

The Design Team were asked to complete a review and audit of the floor area schedules, and to also refine some design elements in order to meet the approved schedule of accommodation.

A further interim workshop was held on 22nd March 2024, between my Department and the Design Team Architect, where further refinements and adjustment to floor area were discussed.

The Design Team Architect and my Department have since continued to liaise in order to progress a revised Stage 2(a) submission in a positive manner.

On 27th May 2024 the Design Team Architect submitted revised drawings and comments and advised they are continuing to update the multi discipline response with the wider Design Team with an updated submission due in 2-3 weeks for Department review.

Upon receipt and review of a revised Stage 2(a) submission, the Stage 2(a) Stakeholders meeting date will be confirmed.

My Department are committed to providing guidance and assistance to the Design Team and the 3 schools in progressing the project through architectural planning, to a point where it can apply for all statutory approvals, including planning permission.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (311)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

311. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education if she will review the case of a child with autism (details supplied) who cannot get a place in any local primary school with an autism unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25158/24]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

I understand that this is an anxious time for parents who are seeking a school place for their child for September and I would like to assure the Deputy that this government is determined to alleviate the pressures faced by parents when seeking a special educational placement.

In relation to the child referred to by the Deputy, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has advised my department that the local special educational needs organiser (SENO) has been in ongoing communication with the family in relation to special class placement options.

It is understood that the family recently relocated to the area and contacted the NCSE for support in accessing a school place. The NCSE will support the family in considering available special class placements or alternatively can look to provide supports for the child in a mainstream class settings.

My department and the NCSE work closely in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places, work which is close to finalisation for the 2024/25 school year.

In relation to places for the coming 2024/2025 school year, the NCSE have sanctioned just over 360 new special classes. The NCSE expect to confirm some additional classes very shortly to ensure that a sufficient level of provision is available to meet the needs of children known to the NCSE. The NCSE are now confident that through the provision of these classes and some vacancies in existing classes there are sufficient places to meet the needs of children known to them for September 2024.

I have asked the NCSE to ensure classes are established as a matter of urgency and to keep all families seeking class places updated on an ongoing basis to ensure their children can access the provision to which they are entitled.

I referenced earlier that this government is committed to alleviating the pressures faced by parents seeking a special educational placement.

Significant additional resources and funding of €13 million have been allocated to the NCSE to allow for the expansion of its services, which will bolster the level of service and provide effective structures to relieve pressure on parents.

This funding has allowed for, among other things, a significant increase in the number of SENOs which will increase from 73 to 120 by next September. These SENOs will work closely with children, their families and schools on the ground in order to provide the necessary supports.

Additional administrative support staff, team managers and other professionals are also being employed to allow SENOs concentrate on working directly with schools and families.

School Funding

Questions (312)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

312. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the status of the revised application for funding to her Department from a school (details supplied). [25180/24]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

The school to which the deputy refers has submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) within my Department. The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope of works required to remedy an emergency situation, and accordingly, a revised scope of works and associated itemised cost breakdown was requested from the school. This was recently received and the application has since been approved.

School Funding

Questions (313)

Carol Nolan

Question:

313. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education to clarify the reason that no ancillary funding was provided to a school (details supplied) this year; if she will confirm that the funding was removed on the basis that her Department is funding a secretarial position; if she will accept that ancillary funding is still required for caretaking works for the school; if she will review her Department’s decision to provide zero funding for vital ancillary works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25211/24]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

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 up-keep and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities, except for cases where a secretary is now paid from my Department’s payroll as per circular 36/2022.

The current standard rate of Capitation grant is €183 per pupil at Primary level and this year's grant is being paid, as usual, in 2 instalments, - the first in January and the second in June, for the 2023/24 academic year. Enhanced rates of capitation are also paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Traveller pupils.

Primary schools with less than 60 pupils are paid the Capitation and the Ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils.

As part of the capitation package in Budget 2024 I am pleased to have secured €21 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This will support a permanent restoration of funding for all primary and post-primary schools from September 2024. This will bring the basic rate of capitation grant to the pre-2011 level of €200 per student in primary schools. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs. This represents an increase of circa 9.2% of current standard and enhanced capitation rates.

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 is 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 running costs such as heating and electricity. A further €40 million in funding was delivered in early 2024.

As the Deputy may be aware, following the acceptance by Fórsa of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) agreement in respect of salaries and various leave entitlements for grant-funded school secretaries, those secretaries who accepted the terms of this agreement were placed on a payroll operated by my Department from September 2023. Therefore, ancillary related grant funding has been revised to reflect the fact that schools are no longer paying these salaries directly.

The arrangements for the 2023/24 school year are based on reducing grants by the value of the salary schools paid to grant-funded secretaries prior to their acceptance of the new terms and conditions. Schools provided my Department with these details and this information is now being used to reduce the ancillary related grant funding.

Correspondence issued to all schools on 20th December 2023 providing details of these arrangements for the period September to December 2023. Further correspondence issued on 26th April 2024 setting out the position for the period January to August 2024.

Schools have been advised that work is ongoing to identify a method of standardising the reduction to the Ancillary and SSSF Grants for the longer term, where school secretaries are being paid via a payroll operated by my Department. Engagement will take place with school management bodies in order to discuss these arrangements to ensure that they are as reasonable and as fair as possible for all schools and further details of these arrangements will be provided to schools as soon as they become available.

The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by my Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cashflow management. If the services of the FSSU would be of assistance to the school referred to by the Deputy, please email sdfinfo@education.gov.ie and officials from my Department will contact the FSSU on behalf of the school. Alternatively, budgeting templates and more information can be found on www.fssu.ie .

School Funding

Questions (314)

Carol Nolan

Question:

314. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if schools are being notified that in instances where her Department funds a school secretary position then they may have to forgo receipt of ancillary funding; if she will accept that this may places schools in an invidious position of choosing one vital service over another; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25212/24]