Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
412. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures in place to ensure that smaller schools (details supplied) including those in rural and isolated areas, have equitable access to capital and operational funding opportunities; the supports available to assist such schools in applying for and securing funding. [16320/26]
View answerThe Department provides a range of capital and operational funding supports to ensure equity for all schools participating in the Free Education Scheme, including smaller schools irrespective of location. These supports include the Capitation Grants, ICT Grants, Minor Works Grants, Climate Action Summer Scheme (CASWS) and Emergency Works Scheme (EWS).
Payment timelines for Minor Works and ICT grants were clarified in the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for Education and Youth, with the Minor Works Grant for the 2026/2027 school year issuing in December 2025 and the ICT Grant for the 2025/2026 school year issuing in January. As part of plans to strengthen the maintenance regime, December 2028/January 2029 has been identified as the timeline for introducing an increase in the Minor Works Grant at primary level and for introducing a Minor Works Grant at post-primary level. Engagement with stakeholders will commence in 2026 to develop an appropriate methodology to target this increased maintenance investment.
With regards to the school referenced. Since 2020 the school has received over €2 million in capital funding across various schemes including over €1.25 million under the Summer Works Scheme.
The school applied and was approved for works under the Emergency Works Scheme for Life Safety Systems in 2025. The school is yet to drawdown the final balance of the funding awarded. This school also applied under CASWS 2026 for Category 4 Climate Action and Mechanical Works; while not approved in the first tranche, it remains eligible for assessment in future rounds, with the next tranche expected in the latter half of 2026.
The Programme for Government commits to increasing capitation funding to help schools meet rising day-to-day running costs. In Budget 2026, the Department secured €39 million to raise standard capitation rates by €50 per pupil in primary schools (from €224 to €274) and by €20 per student in post-primary schools (from €386 to €406), effective September 2026. Urban Band One DEIS primary schools will see a further €20 increase, bringing their mainstream rate to €294, and special schools will receive the same mainstream capitation rates for students aged 12 and over as post-primary schools. These increases build on a 12% rise in Budget 2025, bringing total capitation increases over the last three budgets to 49.7% (€91) for primary and 28.5% (€90) for post-primary schools.
Capitation funding, provided under the Free Education Scheme, supports essential running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general upkeep, while ancillary grants support caretaking and secretarial services. Schools have flexibility to allocate these funds according to local priorities. To maximise value for money, schools are encouraged to use OGP procurement frameworks and can access advice and support from the Schools Procurement Unit (www.spu.ie) and the Financial Support Services Unit (www.fssu.ie) on procurement, budgeting and financial management matters.
