Menu
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.
13 March 2024
SDLP Launches Petition For Restoration Of Integrated Schools Funding
The SDLP has launched a petition calling for the restoration of funding for new buildings at ten integrated schools across NI. The petition follows the recent announcement of the withdrawal of this funding as part of the financial package agreed between Executive parties and the UK Government.
SDLP Launches Petition For Restoration Of Integrated Schools Funding
The SDLP has launched a petition calling for the restoration of funding for new buildings at ten integrated schools across NI. The petition follows the recent announcement of the withdrawal of this funding as part of the financial package agreed between Executive parties and the UK Government.
16 February 2016
Patron Applications Opened For New Primary Schools
The Minister for Education and Skills has announced the opening of the application period for school patron bodies, and prospective school patron bodies, for the patronage of three primary schools due to open in September 2016.
Patron Applications Opened For New Primary Schools
The Minister for Education and Skills has announced the opening of the application period for school patron bodies, and prospective school patron bodies, for the patronage of three primary schools due to open in September 2016.
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.
17 December 2014
Education Minister Accused Of 'Attacking Primary Schools'
Fianna Fáil has accused the Education Minister of "attacking primary schools by reallocating vital primary funding to third level spending".
Education Minister Accused Of 'Attacking Primary Schools'
Fianna Fáil has accused the Education Minister of "attacking primary schools by reallocating vital primary funding to third level spending".
-
Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
