On behalf of Independent Ireland, I wish to be associated with the remarks wishing Julie Lyons and her family the very best. I wish her a long and successful retirement and a happy future. Julie has been keeping the group of Independent Ireland well-rounded over the last number of years.

That is a change of heart there.

So it is Julie's fault, not mine.

Free primary education is guaranteed under Article 42.4 of the Constitution. Today, in my constituency of Cork North-Central and across Ireland, it is anything but free. A coalition of every majority education body, school managers, principals, teachers and staff has written to the Minister for education and the Government to say that schools are now in financial crisis. The facts are stark. An analysis of 707 schools shows that heating costs have gone up 83% since 2019. Water and refuse bills are up 51%. Utility costs have nearly doubled in expenditure from 3.3% to 6.1%. Accounting and auditing costs have gone up 58%. School management systems have gone up by a staggering 199%. This seems outrageous. The average primary school now faces a €17,000 deficit on day-to-day running costs. This is not weekly, but daily.

The Minister and his Government have increased the basic capitation grant to €224 per pupil this September but principals say the real costs of running a school are far closer to €300 per pupil. This is why this coalition of educators calling for an immediate increase to at least €299 has come together. It is also looking for supports for ICT, minor works and ancillary services. In schools in Glanmire, Ballyvolane, Mayfield, Knocknaheeny, Ballincollig, Mallow and Blarney in my constituency, and I sure across the Minister's constituency too, we have people raising funds not for extras but for essentials. They are raising funds to keep the lights and the heating on and to cover cleaning costs. Cash-strapped parents are running raffles and bake sales and are being asked for large voluntary contributions while inflation eats away at their pay packets. To my mind, that is not free education; it is a breach of the Constitution. Will the Minister commit to raising the capitation grant to €299 per child in the forthcoming budget, thereby ensuring that principals can focus on teaching instead of begging families to keep their classrooms open?

I thank Deputy O'Flynn for his question. As the budget approaches, many sectors in society will be anxious to ensure their sector gets taken care of in the budget. As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, the Government has a limited cake and that amount has to be spread out equitably across the different sectors. Regarding school funding and capitation, since 2020 schools have benefited from significant increases in capitation funding, additional teaching and SNA posts and enhanced school leadership supports. I know the Minister, Deputy McEntee, is doing her best to ensure the capitation improvement will increase. The Minister is doing a review of costs in schools to see whether we can bring them down. It is important to point out that a huge amount has been done to date and over previous budgets. Budget 2025 delivered a permanent €30 million increase in capitation funding, which was a 12% rise on current standard and enhanced rates. That was on top of the 9.2% increase secured the previous year and the Minister is anxious to see that further supports are provided in this budget. From this September, this has brought capitation to €224 per primary pupil, as the Deputy said. Of course, there are secondary pupils as well. The capitation is €386 per post-primary student, with enhanced rates for pupils with special education needs and Traveller pupils. Schools received a €45 million cost-of-living payment in November 2024 to tackle rising energy and day-to-day running costs. The Department of education works very closely with schools that are in financial difficulty. If a school is in financial difficulty, it should contact the Department of education. The financial support services unit within the Department will play a critical role in guiding schools through any financial difficulties. We have to take into account that the Government has in recent years provided free schoolbooks for children in primary schools and, indeed, in secondary schools now. That has been an extraordinary game-changer, if I can use a word that has been used with some frequency recently.

It is a great word.

It has been a game-changer for parents of schoolchildren. It has had a considerable role in reducing the pressures on them. I am conscious, as I know the Minister, Deputy McEntee is, that schools can face financial difficulties and that there are further financial burdens placed upon them. The capitation grant has increased, and we hope it will increase again. There are mechanisms through which schools in financial difficulty can get support by engaging with the financial support services unit within the Department. If schools in the Deputy's constituency of Cork North-Central have issues in terms of financial difficulty, I am sure they have already been in contact. If they have not, they should be in contact with the Department of education.

I thank the Minister for his reply and his very warm words but unfortunately warm words do not heat classrooms. It is not just one Deputy raising this concern; it is an entire education community speaking with one voice. The INTO, Educate Together, school managers, Fórsa and the IPPN are all saying the same thing. They all cannot be wrong. Schools are running on a deficit and parents are trying to fill the gap. The Minister referred to the books scheme but is he aware that a number of schools have told people to buy electronic devices such as iPads or equivalent tablets, which is costing parents an additional €600? This is an expense they certainly did not see coming. That is happening throughout the country. The promises of reviews will not cover the deficit of €17,000 per school. Parents should not have to sell cakes in bake sales to keep the classroom warm and lit. I remind the Minister again-----

Thank you Deputy O'Flynn.

-----of the constitutional promise of free education.

That constitutional obligation on the State is being complied with.

It is not.

It is being complied with-----

It is not.

What about the other resources that the Deputy has not mentioned?

It is not. The Minister is misleading the House.

Allow the Minister to answer.

The Government has put €200 million into ICT in schools. The minor works programme can be availed of for the purposes of works in schools. The summer works programme, which is very popular, ensures works can be done over a short period of time while schools are out on holiday.

Is every educator in Ireland an idiot?

Will the Deputy allow the Minister to answer?

As I stated, the free books scheme has not been mentioned by him. There is the hot meals scheme as well in schools.

That is another disgrace.

There are huge advantages that have been introduced into the education sector in schools by this Government and its predecessor and they need to be acknowledged by the Deputy. We acknowledge that there are schools that are under financial pressures but there is a mechanism for them to engage with the Department in respect of that. If there are schools that need to engage with the Department, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the unit in the Department will engage with them. They will provide schools with advice and support, if that support is available, to ensure the schools get through it.