Seán Sherlock
Question:349. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education when the ancillary services grant and ICT digital strategy grants will be paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19342/24]
View answerTuesday, 30 April 2024
Questions (349)
Written answers
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, general up-keep etc. 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.
Correspondence issued to all schools on 26th April detailing the calculation of ancillary grant funding for 2024 and the ancillary grant is now paid to all schools.
I recently announced €50 million in grant funding for Information and Communications Technology (ICT), which has now issued to all recognised primary, Special Schools and post-primary schools. This ICT funding is being provided to schools to help them continue to use digital technologies in their teaching, learning and assessment and which represents the second tranche of ICT funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027.