I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue. I have put it in for a number of days now. I thank the junior Minister, Deputy Moynihan, for being here. It is prompted by a frustration I hear in my constituency and from colleagues across the State in relation to the minor works and ICT grants. They were announced in April 2024. There was an expectation we would see them in April 2025. I submitted questions but there was no clear indication of when they would be announced. They were announced today, which I welcome. They are significantly down on last year's funding. The announcement by the previous Minister, Deputy Foley, was for €79 million. The announcement today by the current Minister, Deputy McEntee, is for €65 million, with a reduction in the ICT grant funding. This is all in the context of a school funding emergency. We know from any number of indicators from teachers' unions, conferences, principal representative groups, teachers, principals individually and collectively and surveys, formal and anecdotal, that schools are to the pin of their collar. One survey showed that more than 70% of primary schools ran a deficit in the previous 12 months. They are borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. I think there has been a 35% increase in the cost of running a school since 2010 but, incredibly, the capitation grant has been flat since then. There are increased costs of heating, principally, electricity and insurance. One survey in my region showed insurance costs alone account for more than 25% of the capitation grant for the vast majority of schools, and for 100% of it in a small number of cases. In every case, it is a significant burden. According to one survey, in addition to heating, electricity, insurance and transport costs were raised. I am aware that the secondary school in Ashbourne, for example, is fundraising for transport costs to football matches etc. Due to the poor state of basic funding to schools, which also applies to the ancillary grant, according to surveys three quarters of respondent primary schools say that the ancillary grant does not cover ancillary staff costs. On average, out of the 1,200 schools that replied to the survey I saw, there is a shortfall of €7,200. As they cannot make it up through grants, they have to scramble, robbing Peter to pay Paul, fundraising efforts and so-called voluntary contributions. It is unsustainable. I welcome the grant funding announced today but will the Minister of State tell me why it has decreased so significantly? What will this Government do to address the crisis in school funding?

Sentiment score: 0.06

There is no doubt they are essential and welcome when they come but they are not enough. That is the reality. I need the Minister of State, the Minister and Department to hear that. Schools are screaming from the rooftops. All you need to do is look at the Dáil record and see the number of times school funding has been raised by Deputies across the House. I think there is a former school principal in the corner on the other side of the House. I am sure he will reflect on it as well. Basic funding for schools does not match increased costs. Schools try to muddle through but many cannot. They resort to voluntary contributions, fundraising or running deficits. The funding announced today is €14 million down on the funding announced last year, at a time when schools are sinking under the weight of increased costs and the number of schools being directed to the FSSU is increasing year on year significantly. Politics is being played. Government representatives went out on every local media station today announcing the figures for this grant funding. They did not say it is significantly down on last year. They are announcing the welcome news that there is funding for local schools. If the local representative in Meath was honest, she would say that instead of getting €2.2 million as we got last year, we are only getting €1.5 million for the ICT grant this year. It is down €700,000. The minor works grant is as it was, €1.2 million, which is welcome. This is a significant decrease in funding. Schools are struggling. They use these funds to deliver the essential works needed and for cash flow to ensure they stay above water. It is a major problem. I acknowledge when progress is made. I hope the Minister of State will acknowledge that I am fair in that regard but schools are chronically underfunded. The people who really suffer are those who are most vulnerable who do not have access to funds outside the school and fundraising efforts.

Sentiment score: 0.11