Foley announces €100m in additional cost-of-living funding for schools

One hundred million euro in additional cost-of-living funding has been announced to support schools across Ireland. 

The Minister for Education, Norma Foley, has today (November 29) announced the provision of €90million for schools for the 2022/2023 academic year, as well as €10million in fuel contributions to bus contractors operating under Bus Éireann for the Department's School Transport Scheme. 

Minister Foley said, "I am delighted to announce that schools will shortly receive this once-off additional capitation payment which will support them to meet increasing energy and running costs. This funding represents an approximately 40 per cent increase in current capitation rate payments for this academic year.

"Additional funding of €10 million will also be paid as a fuel contribution to School Transport Scheme Operators as a cost of living measure in response to the impact that rising energy costs will have on school transport scheme services. This €10 million in funding is in line with the contribution that was paid for term 2 and term 3 of 2021/22 school year.” 

The Department of Education has also reportedly ensured that centrally negotiated rates are available to schools for electricity and bulk heating fuels, rates which are available through existing frameworks sourced by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). 

The OGP has run competitions specifically for schools at a national level and the Schools Procurement Unit and the department has communicated with schools, school management bodies and education and training boards informing them of the options available through these national arrangements. 

Information on how to avail of these arrangements is available via the Schools Procurement Unit website or email [email protected] for ETBs.