All schools in the country have responded in a hugely positive manner in response to the increase in enrolment of children from Ukraine and IPAS children. In the case of this school, my Department has allocated an additional three mainstream class teachers due to the increased enrolments of these children. In addition, the school has been allocated 50 hours per week to support new entrant pupils who have English as an additional language and 13 extra special education teaching hours.
My Department provides funding to all recognised schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. These grants are based on recognised enrolments in September of the relevant school year.
The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs including heating, lighting etc. and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. These grants may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.
In addition, as part of the Cost of Living measures introduced in Budget 23, €90 million has been provided in once-off additional funding to support increased running costs for recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme, in particular in dealing with challenges they face in the light of rising energy costs. This additional grant was paid at the rate of €75 per pupil at Primary level. Enhanced rates were also paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs.
In addition to this 40% increase in grant funding in Budget 2023 to cover increased running costs, my Department has been supporting schools to access lower prices for some time. Significant work has been carried out at Department level in order to support all schools in their procurement and use of energy supplies.
My Department has ensured in recent years that centrally negotiated rates were made available to schools for electricity and bulk heating fuels through frameworks sourced by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). Central rates are fixed for gas and electricity for those availing of those arrangements at present.
The school referred to by the Deputy has received a total of €64,537 in capitation related funding for the 2022/23 school year to date. This includes €21,392in Capitation funding, €17,761 in respect of the Ancillary Grant, €12,859 in respect of Covid-19 and €12,525 in respect of the Cost of Living Grant. The school has also received funding of €47,000 for emergency works this year, bringing its funding for these costs to over €111,000. The schools is also in receipt of other payments from the Department such as school books funding, DEIS funding etc.
My Department has been in contact with this school regarding their financial circumstances since February 2023 and I can also confirm that the Financial Service Support Unit (FSSU) have been in direct contact with the school.
Officials in my Department and the FSSU are currently completing an assessment of the financial position giving rise to the difficulties in this particular school and will be in contact with the school directly.
