The cost of living crisis is creeping into all areas of society as families, businesses, and now schools are struggling to keep up with incoming bills.
The cost of running a household or business premises is on the rise and energy bills are just one of the many concerns facing the population of Ireland right now.
Today, Eimear Nolan, Chief Executive of Educate Together, has said without a “significant level” of funding, she fears schools “will not be able to pay their bills this term.”
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Speaking to Newstalk, she said schools have yet to recover from a decrease in capitation that was brought in back in 2010, and said it’s an “ongoing problem” made worse by the rate of inflation.
“I mean we’re all very aware now of the cost of living crisis at this stage, with massive increases, gas costs and even before these recent increases the price of heating oil had risen by nearly 115% in one year,” she explained.
“You know, general inflation is running at over 9% and we’re still suffering in primary schools from a cut to the capitation rate back in 2010, we’ve never really recovered.
“So we, as representatives of the nearly 3,000 primary schools around the country, are really concerned that primary school simply will not be able to pay their bills this term”
“This isn’t a new problem for primary schools, it’s an ongoing problem.
When asked if the capitation rates were not in place purely to the basics, Ms Nolan said: “I think it’s intended to be, but I mean I remember serving our schools more than ten years ago and at that time a primary school needed to fundraise around €40,000 a year just to pay for the basics.
“And the situation has got worse over the years, and especially in recent years with the level of increase in the costs that are there.
“We all know that parents are being asked for voluntary contributions, you know parent associations are out coming up with bigger and better fundraising and it just shouldn’t be this way.”
A statement from INTO on the topic explained that: “Primary schools receive a capitation grant of €1 per pupil per school day to cover running costs. Second-level schools receive almost double that amount.
“OECD figures show Ireland spends on average 20% less per student at primary level than other developed countries.
“In Budget 2023, the INTO is calling for a significant increase in the school capitation grant to better fund schools and reduce the burden on parents who have to give additional financial support.
“The estimated annual cost of a 20% increase in the capitation grant for primary and special schools would total €20 million. The estimate for September to December 2023 would be €6.9 million.”
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