Most schools are financially worse off now than they were when the recession began -as voluntary contributions plummet and the Government cuts funding to cover running costs, according to a survey by the Irish Primary Principals’ Network.
The survey was conducted ahead of the network’s three-day annual conference which starts tomorrow at the Citywest Convention Centre, Dublin and will be attended by over 1,100 primary school leaders.
Of the 682 school principals who responded to the survey, just 9 per cent said that their school’s financial position had improved since 2008 while 31 per cent reported that their budgets remained the same.
However, 60 per cent of schools said their financial position was worse now than it was three years ago.
Almost one-quarter said parents should be asked for a contribution to help meet running costs while 18 per cent said teachers should be asked to cut back on learning resources to offset the drop in schools’ budgets.
Just over 8 per cent of respondents said outstanding invoices should be sent to the school's patron for payment.
Network director Seán Cottrell said steep inflation in school running costs, especially utility bills, parents’ inability to contribute due to unemployment and pay cuts, and the Government’s cuts to the capitation budget means that many schools are slipping deeper into debt.
“The recession has brought about a perfect storm of declining voluntary contributions and Government funding, and rising utility and supplies costs, leaving many schools deep in debt,” he said.
“The Government needs to rethink its decision to cut capitation funding and allow boards of management to use professional services, including financial expertise, to help them to manage their budgets in an era of declining resources.”
He said small schools are now being coerced into amalgamations, partly because the Department of Education considers them too small to be financially viable.
“But if it was not for our parents, who provide about one-third of the running costs of primary schools, the Department would have 3,300 financially unviable schools,’ Mr Cottrell added.