11/04/2008
Government Told Primary Schools In Debt
Representatives of Ireland’s primary schools have made a desperate plea for more funding.
Monsignor Dan O’Connor will present an agreed statement from the Catholic Primary School Management Association to ministers in a special meeting with members of the joint Oireachtas committee on education.
The school association has grown deeply concerned as the gap between Government grants and the real cost of running primary schools widens dramatically.
The statement says that for a modern democratic state which claims to be one of the most prosperous in Europe and to be a proponent of a 'knowledge economy' it is completely unacceptable that schools have to resort to cake sales, coffee mornings, super-market bag-packing, sponsored runs, race nights, dream auctions, summer fetes, lotteries and draws, sponsored barn-dances, Christmas bazaars, treasure hunts, spellathons, quiz nights, parental 'voluntary' contributions, loose change collections, uniform-free days, church-gate collections, fashion-shows, and many other local fund-raising activities just to keep schools afloat.
According to the statement: "An increasing number of schools are running in a deficit situation and cannot balance their books."
It shows that even schools, which fall under the Department of Education’s disadvantaged scheme, are in deep trouble and deep debt. Audited accounts for three such schools in Dublin show debts of €21,162 in the first school; €50,259 in the second and a massive €77,876 in the third.
The statement also criticises the government’s budgetary proposal of a €16 per child grant.
The statement says: "The fact that it was almost immediately reduced by a water charge of €3.50 means that schools will receive only €12.50 in the current year. Estimates indicate that an increase of €160 - €175 per child - will be necessary to keep schools properly resourced this year.”
(DW)
Monsignor Dan O’Connor will present an agreed statement from the Catholic Primary School Management Association to ministers in a special meeting with members of the joint Oireachtas committee on education.
The school association has grown deeply concerned as the gap between Government grants and the real cost of running primary schools widens dramatically.
The statement says that for a modern democratic state which claims to be one of the most prosperous in Europe and to be a proponent of a 'knowledge economy' it is completely unacceptable that schools have to resort to cake sales, coffee mornings, super-market bag-packing, sponsored runs, race nights, dream auctions, summer fetes, lotteries and draws, sponsored barn-dances, Christmas bazaars, treasure hunts, spellathons, quiz nights, parental 'voluntary' contributions, loose change collections, uniform-free days, church-gate collections, fashion-shows, and many other local fund-raising activities just to keep schools afloat.
According to the statement: "An increasing number of schools are running in a deficit situation and cannot balance their books."
It shows that even schools, which fall under the Department of Education’s disadvantaged scheme, are in deep trouble and deep debt. Audited accounts for three such schools in Dublin show debts of €21,162 in the first school; €50,259 in the second and a massive €77,876 in the third.
The statement also criticises the government’s budgetary proposal of a €16 per child grant.
The statement says: "The fact that it was almost immediately reduced by a water charge of €3.50 means that schools will receive only €12.50 in the current year. Estimates indicate that an increase of €160 - €175 per child - will be necessary to keep schools properly resourced this year.”
(DW)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
27 June 2011
Up To 40 New Schools To Be Established In Six Years
Twenty new primary schools and twenty new post-primary schools are to be established in the next six years. Announcing the new schools, the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn said: "My Department is forecasting an increase of over 45,050 primary pupils and 24,900 post-primary pupils by the start of the 2017/18 school year.
Up To 40 New Schools To Be Established In Six Years
Twenty new primary schools and twenty new post-primary schools are to be established in the next six years. Announcing the new schools, the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn said: "My Department is forecasting an increase of over 45,050 primary pupils and 24,900 post-primary pupils by the start of the 2017/18 school year.
09 November 2007
Protestant Schools Protest Imposition Of Outside Staff
A bitter educational dispute is likely to lead to the courts as four Protestant schools in Dublin continue to refuse the imposition of teachers from other, now closed schools elsewhere.
Protestant Schools Protest Imposition Of Outside Staff
A bitter educational dispute is likely to lead to the courts as four Protestant schools in Dublin continue to refuse the imposition of teachers from other, now closed schools elsewhere.
28 May 2012
More Than Three Quarters Of Primary Schools Operate Book Rental Schemes
New research by the Department of Education and Skills shows that 76% of primary schools operate a school book rental scheme. The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., asked the Department to undertake an investigation of book rental schemes in order to examine ways to reduce the financial burden of school books on families.
More Than Three Quarters Of Primary Schools Operate Book Rental Schemes
New research by the Department of Education and Skills shows that 76% of primary schools operate a school book rental scheme. The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., asked the Department to undertake an investigation of book rental schemes in order to examine ways to reduce the financial burden of school books on families.
08 July 2010
Schools Allowed To Fill 'Some Vacancies'
Primary and Post-Primary Schools with significant level of vacancies are to be allowed to fill promotion posts However, the general moratorium on filling promotion posts in schools must continue, according to the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan.
Schools Allowed To Fill 'Some Vacancies'
Primary and Post-Primary Schools with significant level of vacancies are to be allowed to fill promotion posts However, the general moratorium on filling promotion posts in schools must continue, according to the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan.
10 April 2015
FF Warns 'Spiralling Class Sizes' Will Result In 'Major Deterioration'
Failure to act on spiralling class sizes will result in a "major deterioration of education standards", Fianna Fáil has warned. TD for Laois – Offaly, Sean Fleming, has called on the government to "take action" to reduce class sizes.
FF Warns 'Spiralling Class Sizes' Will Result In 'Major Deterioration'
Failure to act on spiralling class sizes will result in a "major deterioration of education standards", Fianna Fáil has warned. TD for Laois – Offaly, Sean Fleming, has called on the government to "take action" to reduce class sizes.