Many schools across the country are struggling to keep the lights on. That is not my opinion; that is fact. A new survey has highlighted the huge increase in the costs that schools are grappling with. In the past five years insurance costs have increased by one third, while utilities soared by 50% and cleaning costs by 80%. However, funding for schools has not gone up. The capitation grant they have is the same as 2008, nearly two decades ago. How are principals expected to pay costs for 2025 with 2008 budgets? A record number of schools are applying to the Department for financial assistance. Many schools still have to ask for voluntary contributions. Principals are spending all their time worrying about how they will pay the bills. It is causing a huge amount of stress and burnout. When will the Government increase the capitation grant to a sustainable level for schools to pay the bills, have a buffer for emergencies and enhance teaching and learning?

I thank the Deputy for bringing up this issue. The INTO has rightly highlighted the issue with the Deputy and colleagues across the House in recent days. Many of us have had the opportunity to hear directly from the INTO. The Deputy is right that real challenges are faced by our schools. It is objectively fair to say we have increased the education budget a lot. Much of the focus has been on reducing class sizes and on special education needs. We all support that but there is a legitimate issue around capitation and a sustainable level of funding. The Minister for education, Deputy McEntee, will consider all of this in advance of the budget due in October. She will meet and engage with the INTO and others in the run-up to it.