Capitation Grants

Tuesday, 29 September 2026

Questions (364, 374, 380, 385, 399, 403, 407)

Conor Sheehan

Question:

364. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will increase the capitation grant for schools in the budget. [68003/26]

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374. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there are plans to increase capitation funding for schools in budget 2027 to ensure they can cover the costs of heating, electricity, cleaning and insurance. [68288/26]

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Barry Ward

Question:

380. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding any review of the capitation grant paid to school in light of significant cost increases. [68189/26]

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Aidan Farrelly

Question:

385. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to increase capitation funding in 2027. [68349/26]

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Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

399. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on capitation funding for primary schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68549/26]

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Séamus McGrath

Question:

403. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth to significantly increase the capitation funding for schools in the upcoming budget. [68606/26]

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Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

407. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the financial pressures being experienced by primary schools arising from increases in day-to-day running costs such as heating, electricity, cleaning and insurance; if she will outline the current level of capitation funding available to primary schools; and her plans to increase the primary school capitation grant in Budget 2027. [68651/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 364, 374, 380, 385, 399, 403 and 407 together.

The Government is committed to increasing funding to support schools and the Programme for Government commits to increasing capitation funding to schools of all types to ensure that schools can meet the elevated day-to-day running costs.

This commitment builds on the progress made in recent years. The Department of Education and Youth has secured €39 million in Budget 2026 towards increased capitation funding for primary, post-primary and special schools to provide additional financial support towards their running costs. This will see an increase in the standard capitation rates paid to schools of €50 per pupil for primary schools from €224 to €274 and of €20 per student for post-primary schools from €386 to €406.

This will also allow for an increase of €20 in capitation rates for Urban Band One DEIS primary schools, and DEIS Plus primary schools, increasing the mainstream pupil rate in these schools to €294. The increased capitation rates will also see special schools now receive the same rates of mainstream capitation, for young people aged 12 and over, as for their peers in mainstream post-primary schools. These increases will take effect from September 2026. This funding will benefit schools around the country in managing their day-to-day running costs.

The increases announced in Budget 2026 are in addition to the 12% increases as part of Budget 2025. The last three budgets have resulted in an increase in the level of mainstream capitation grant rates of 49.7% (€91) paid to primary schools and 28.5% (€90) paid to post-primary schools.

The 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 the employment of relevant secretaries as per Circular 0036/2022. Primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils are paid the capitation and the ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils. Enhanced rates are also paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.

OGP frameworks are available to schools for a number of categories including facilities management, managed services, professional services, and utilities. Schools are encouraged to avail of the available OGP procurement frameworks in order to get the best value for money for all school expenditure, in accordance with Circular 0060/2013. The benefits arising from these frameworks include cash savings, administrative savings from reduced duplication of tendering, greater purchasing expertise, improved consistency, enhanced service levels and legal certainty. Schools Procurement Unit (SPU), funded by the department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on procurement matters- www.spu.ie.

The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by the department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters.

The Government remains committed to funding recognised primary and post-primary schools under the Free Education Scheme to help meet day-to-day running costs as set out in the Programme for Government. The priority is to continue to deliver on Programme for Government commitments. Budget 2027 negotiations are ongoing, and any further funding measures will be considered as part of that process.