Schools seek rise in pupil grants

School managers are demanding a €50 increase in grants per pupil to help pay the soaring costs of school insurance. According to a survey by school managers, insurance costs in many schools have doubled in the past year.

In the survey one school paid an additional €25,000 on a premium of just over €50,000 in the past year. Another school saw its insurance costs double to €60,000.

The Joint Managerial Body (JMB), which represents the management of all voluntary secondary schools, in publishing its pre-Budget submission said urgent action is required "to tackle the crippling costs of insurance on schools".

The JMB is campaigning for recognition of this crisis in this year's Budget Estimates. An additional €50 per pupil in capitation grants would go a long way to meet these needs, it said.

The survey shows: one girls' secondary school with 600 pupils had its premium doubled to €60,000.This is €100 per pupil - nearly half the capitation grant on insurance.

A school of 530 pupils had its insurance costs increase from €24,000 to €35,000 in 2002. The school received no extra funding from the Government in 2002 to cover the cost.

A small school of 385 pupils saw its insurance costs increase from €6,000 to €13,000 in 2002. But this school received no extra funding, according to the JMB.

Mr George O'Callaghan, general secretary of the JMB, said schools are being forced to cut back on services like heating, lighting and maintenance.

Many schools, he said, cannot purchase paper, chalk, and laboratory supplies.

An increase in capitation grants to schools of only €50 per pupil would meet the annual insurance costs. This would allow schools to provide much needed educational services, according to the JMB.