Schools buckling under cuts to capitation grant

Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson Seán Crowe has said the crisis facing schools resulting from Government cuts is starkly illustrated by reports this week that children starting the new term in a Cork primary school had been asked to supply their own toilet roll, soap, and hand towels .

Deputy Crowe said: “It is outrageous that parents of pupils at Gaelscoil Chloch na gCoillte in Clonakilty, Co Cork, have been asked to supply their children with a wash bag containing the most basic toiletry items and it shows the impact resulting from cuts in Department of Education funding over recent years.

“In this instance, Principal Carmel Nic Airt said that despite a rise in enrolment numbers at the school to 320, grants for running costs, maintenance, secretarial, and caretaking last year fell by almost €25,500 to €101,587.

“In the past two years the school capitation grant has been cut by 8.5% and this is placing principals and boards of management in an impossible position as heating, lighting insurance bills continue to rise. Other schools are being forced to implement similar measures as Gaelscoil Chloch na gCoillte and we seem to going back to a time when children were expected to bring the teacher an apple or provide a sod of turf to help with the heating of the classroom.

“As teaching unions such as the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation have correctly pointed out, schools are reeling under cutbacks and this is forcing an even greater burden on hard pressed parents as they try to pay for  their children’s education.

“Minister Ruairí Quinn and his colleagues in Government need to reverse the slash and burn policies that are preventing schools from functioning properly.”