Parents of primary school pupils now collecting cans to fund schools
Parents are increasingly being asked to chip in through fundraisers to make up shortfalls in capital grants, which are used for day-to-day running expenses, including heating and insurance.
While the grants are set to rise from €200 per child to €224, teaching unions have said they are at 2007 levels. As a result, parents and children have been asked to take part in multiple fundraisers, including collecting bottles and cans, which can be redeemed for up to 25c via the Deposit Return Scheme. Parents and children have been asked to take part in multiple fundraisers, including collecting bottles and cans, which can be redeemed for up to 25c via the Deposit Return Scheme. Pic: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie
Séamus Mulconry of The Catholic Primary School Management Association has said that in many schools, this has now become an 'integral part of their financial planning. They're desperate to raise cash and we have a lot of schools now who are dependent on money from collecting plastic bottles to pay for school essentials,' he told Pat Kenny on Newstalk yesterday.
When contacted by Extra.ie, the Department of Education said: 'The manner in which voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management.' A spokesman said fundraising must not create a situation where parents or pupils could infer the contributions are compulsory in nature'.
The Irish National Teachers Organisation has attributed the increased reliance on fundraising to the insufficient capitation grants offered to schools. It said: 'The capita – tion grants stand at €200 per pupil (due to rise to €224 per pupil from September), the same as it was 14 years ago, despite significant inflationary pressures that have increased operational costs.' Primary schools across the country have become reliant on the Deposit Return Scheme to raise money to 'keep the lights on'. Pic: Maskot/Getty
The INTO has called on the Government 'to deliver an increase of €75 per primary pupil' on the capitation grant in the budget. They say the current rate of capitation grants 'has placed an intolerable burden' on school principals, and has seen a rise in teachers and parents participating in fundraising to keep the lights on.
Mr Mulcroney noted that by September, there would be €224 per pupil to run schools, but they will receive €536 per head to feed pupils via the School Meals Scheme.
'We're taking good care of pupils in that respect… but we're not taking care of the running costs of the school. We interviewed over 90 schools, and from 2019 to 2024, costs have gone up by 60%. This included cleaning bills going up 60%, insurance 30% and heating 80%. It's all these things together that leave schools struggling. We have always been underfunded, now we're under water.' Labour education spokesman Eoghan Kenny TD has called on the Government to raise the capitation rates in line with inflation. Pic Stephen Collins/Collins Photos
Labour education spokesman Eoghan Kenny TD has called on the Government to raise the capitation rates in line with inflation.
'I don't think the department realises the extent of the costs facing schools. Very basic needs are not being met. This is the fault of the Department of Education and this Government,' he said.
Social Democrats' education spokeswoman Jen Cummings also called for rates to match inflation. 'Parents are not fundraisers. They are taxpayers who deserve a free education system, not one built on endless appeals for voluntary donations to plug State funding gaps.'
Primary schools are also grappling with updating software systems. This comes after the department announced in June that there would be a 30% cut to the ICT minor works grant, used by schools to buy and maintain computer equipment.
Ms Cummins said the cuts put extra pressure on schools after Microsoft said it will no longer be servicing Windows 10, a software many schools still rely on. This has created financial difficulties for schools that will soon need to upgrade their systems.
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