The Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe TD, today explained to Fine Gael’s education spokesman the commitment under the new Programme for Government to increase funding to schools.
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Minister O’Keeffe said: ‘For the second day running, Brian Hayes is confused so let me explain to him what’s happening in Government.
‘I’ve already secured an increase in capitation – money used for the day-to-day running of a school – of €20 million this year.
‘I want to make capitation the main funding mechanism for schools so that they have flexibility and autonomy in how they use their funding to meet the needs of the school community.
‘Now, the new Programme for Government commits to further increasing capitation funding to provide for needs such as book rental schemes and curricular activity.
‘The precise level of support will be considered in the context of the upcoming estimates process and the Budget.
‘I’ve said to management bodies that I want to work with them to minimise the administrative burden on schools.
‘I’ll be consulting with school management bodies about the arrangements for the consolidated grants to issue to schools on foot of the new Programme for Government commitment.’