Grants payable to Primary Schools

 

Capitation Grant

  • The standard Capitation Grant is currently €183 per capita
  • The grant is based on a minimum enrolment of 60
  • Special schools and mainstream schools who have special classes receive enhanced rates which are outlined in the circular below

See Department of Education circular 0038/2020

Ancillary Grant

  • The Ancillary Grant is currently €173 per capita (full rate) €89.50 (reduced rate)
  • The grant is based on a minimum enrolment of 60 and a maximum of 500
  • Special schools receive the grant based on the number of full-time teachers

Update to Ancillary Grant

See link to Department of Education circular 0017/2021

Minor Works Grant

  • The Minor Works Grant is €5,500 basic plus €18.50 Mainstream (€74 Special Schools)

See link to Department of Education circular 0062/2013

ICT Grant

Digital Divide

  • Paid November 2021
  • The ICT Digital Divide grant is a one off payment
Enrolment Grant –

Non DEIS

Grant DEIS
0 to 99 €5,000 €10,000
100 to 249 €8,000 €16,000
250 to 499 €13,360 €26,720
500 to 749 €22,311 €44,622
750 plus

 

€37,260

 

€74,519

 

See link to Department of Education circular 0060/2021

Free Primary Schoolbooks Scheme

  • The Book Grant is €96 per pupil enrolled.

See link to Department of Education Information

Attendance Campaign Support Grant for Primary Schools

  • One off grant to promote regular school attendance especially children at risk of disadvantage
  • This campaign will be supported at school level by the department and the three strands of Tusla Education Support Service (TESS ) namely the statutory Educational Welfare Service (EWS) along with the two school support services, the Home School Community Liaison Scheme (HSCL) and the School Completion Programme (SCP).

P07 2023/2024

DE National School Attendance Campaign 2023

DEIS Grant (DEIS schools only)

  • Schools included in the School Support Program under DEIS receive a grant which is based on the level of concentrated disadvantage in each school and the school’s enrolment

See link to Department of Education circular 0034/2023

Department of Education Grant letter – Primary

Department Guidelines on the appropriate use of the DEIS Grant

NCSE support flyer

NCSE bileog tacaíochta

PDST support flyer

PDST bileog tacaíochta

Queries in relation to the DEIS Grant should be directed to Social Inclusion Unit in the Department of Education.

Standardised Testing Grant

  • The Standardised Testing Grant is €5.10 per pupil, subject to a minimum of €140 per school

 

School Library Books Capital Grant

  • Paid June 2022
  • The school Library Grant is a one off Grant of €21 per pupil
  • The grant is based on a minimum enrolment of 60
  • The funding being provided must be used exclusively to improve the schools existing literacy resource banks
  • It is not intended for the purchase of textbooks and should not be used to supplement the Book Grant funding
  • It also cannot be used for the purchase of fixtures and fittings for a library or for software such as accelerated reading programme.

Click here for further information


Can the ICT Grant be spent on ICT support contracts?

No, ICT grant cannot be spent on IT support or maintenance.

Can the ICT Grant be spent on domain and website expenses?

Yes, if there is any learning or teaching element to the website the school may use ICT funds.


How should the DEIS grant be spent?

DEIS expenditure must fall under the below themes:

  • Attendance
  • Retention
  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Supporting Educational Transitions
  • Partnership with Parents and Others
  • Academic Outcome (Post-Primary only)

The DEIS grant must be spent in line with the DE Guidelines on the appropriate use of DEIS Grant in DEIS Primary and Post-Primary schools

*Any unspent grant is not expected to be carried forward.  Given the broad scope of the guideline it is envisaged that schools will spend the grant in full each year.


Which grants are ringfenced?

  • Book Grant
  • ICT Grant
  • Special Education Equipment Grant ie Funding for a laptop for a special needs student
  • COVID-19 Specific Grants
  • Funding for an extension
  • Minor Works Grant
  • School Meals Grants
  • Standardised Testing Grant


How can I find out what funds received from DOE funds relate to?

Usually you will receive an email with remittance information.  If you have any query regarding funds received, please email remittance@education.gov.ie and quote the school roll no.


Who pays the School Meals Scheme Grant?

The School Meals Grant is paid by the Department of Social Protection.

Does the school meals grant require a separate bank account?

Schools receiving school meals scheme funding in excess of €10,000 per annum are required to set up a bank account specifically for school meals. This applies to new entrants to the scheme also.

The Dept. of Social Protection will seek bank statements as part of the annual application process in addition to the income and expenditure account.

What is the Standardised Testing Grant?

Standardised testing is carried out in May for 2nd, 4th, and 6th classes. The Standardised Testing Grant is €5.10 per pupil, minimum of €140 per school. It is generally a ring-fenced grant.  However, as there are no tests for younger pupils, junior primary schools may treat it as a general grant. It was not paid in 2020 because of COVID-19.

How do we return unspent Covid 19 grants to the Department?

Returning Unspent COVID-19 Grants

Any unspent COVID-19 Capitation related grants for the 22/23 School Year should be returned by schools to the Department’s bank account by electronic funds transfer by 30th September 2023.

There is no requirement to return the Covid 19 Minor Works Grant at this time.

Calculating Unspent COVID-19 Grants

This Unspent COVID 19 Grant Calculator can help you calculate how much unspent COVID-19 Capitation should be returned.

 

Department Bank Account Details Branch Name & Address Danske Bank, 3 Harbourmaster Place, IFSC, Dublin 1, D01 K8F1
Account Name PMG Gen Remittance
Account Number 10001155
Sort Code 95-15-99
BIC

 

DABAIE2D
IBAN IE16 DABA 9515 9910 0011 55
Message/Legend to be used for the account to which the payment is being lodged COVIDREFUND2223 immediately followed by School Roll No. e.g. COVIDREFUND222331245A
Email address to which details of the refund to be returned should be sent covidrefundsdf@education.gov.ie
Details for inclusion in the email a) Subject line – School roll no. followed by COVIDREFUND b) Total amount being returned

c) Name and phone number for contact purposes

 

If you have a query that is not addressed in these FAQs, please email us at primary@fssu.ie.