The average size of a primary school in Ireland is 161 pupils and an analysis of the main grants paid by the Department of Education shows that funding to a typical school has been cut by 19% over the period from 2010 to 2013.
Capitation Grants to Irish Primary Schools have been cut by 12% over these three years from €200 per pupil in 2010 to €176 per pupil in 2013. The Ancillary Services Grant and the Book Grant have not been cut in this period, but the Minor Works Grant has been eliminated completely.
These are the four most common grants paid to Irish Primary Schools and the typical school of 161 pupils would have received the following amounts from these grants in 2010 and 2013:
Grant Capitation Ancillary Services Book Grant Minor Works Total | 2010 Total 32,200 23,667 1,771 8,479 66,117 | 2013 Total 28,336 23,667 1,771 0 53,774 |