Claim that schools rely on donations

PRIMARY SCHOOLS cannot make ends meet without generous voluntary contributions, fundraising and overdraft facilities, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore claimed.

He said a recent survey by the Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) and National Parents' Council (NPC) found over 40 per cent of parents were paying over €100 in voluntary contributions for the day-to-day running of their local school. "The IPPN also found that almost one-third of parents' associations have to raise over €10,000 a year just to keep doors open," he added.

Mr Gilmore was introducing a Labour Private Members' motion expressing grave concern about the serious financial crisis facing many primary schools.

He said another survey found that the average 100-pupil school received €17,300 for this academic year. Out of this, it was expected to pay for heating, electricity, water and other utility bills, cleaning, repairs, insurance, office supplies and classroom materials. However, Mr Gilmore said, those basic running costs amounted to an average of €34,310.

Minister for Education Mary Hanafin said that the department was spending some €9.3 billion on education services this year. She said she was aware of the funding pressures on schools, but it was a key Government priority to improve the funding for schools' day-to-day running costs.

Ms Hanafin said the Programme for Government set out the commitment to double the primary capitation grant by 2012 and to increase the services grant for secretaries and caretakers.

"This year, the department will be paying around €167 million to primary schools to meet their day-to-day running costs," she added.