Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, has announced in Budget 2024 that free school books will be administered for students up to junior cycle. This measure will cost €67 million, and will benefit over 200,000 children, amounting to €310 per child. Primary school books were already free, but this has been increased to the first three years of secondary school as part of a €55 million package.
It was announced that for the second year running there will be €1,000 reduction in third-level fees for most students as part of a once-off cost of living measure. There will also be a once-off reduction of 33 per cent in the contribution fee for apprentices for higher education, as well as an increase in the Post Graduate Tuition fee contribution by €1,000 for student grant recipients.
Schools will get a once-off additional cost of living funding of €61 million to help meet day-to-day expenses, known as capitation. On top of this year's once-off payment, an additional €20 million has been allocated to the capitation fund. The Department of Education believes that this €81 million will return school day-to-day funding to pre-2011 levels.
Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery, and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, announced an extension of the fee waiver on school transport services for a further year, an extension of the fee waiver for students sitting state exams, a €60 million capitation payment for schools to continue to meet increased running costs and funding for supports for the most disadvantaged groups.
The minister said €10.5 billion is being allocated to the Department of Education in 2024. This will include a capital budget of €940 million. Mr Donohoe stated that this would be used to continue the rollout of urgently required school building projects. There are currently 300 projects underway, and a further 200 school building projects will begin construction over 2024 and 2025.
The budget will also provide a further 1,200 additional SNA's.
Minister Donohoe told the Dáil that €60m is being provided to address the sustainable funding of Higher Education, as well as additional funding for greater capacity in medicine places. €67 million will be provided for the Craft Apprenticeship system to over 16,000 places next year.
The hot school meals scheme is to be extended to 900 additional primary schools next April.
All in all, a positive budget in terms of education. Secondary schools will hope for an increase for free school books to all students in next year's budget.
