IPPN

Principals are extremely disappointed that the Education budget has failed to address the gap between State funding and the basic running costs of primary schools.

While welcoming the increases in the Capital Budget for Schools, Seán Cottrell said "Unless the day-to-day funding shortfall of primary schools is addressed meaningfully, the value of capital investment will not reap their planned benefits if schools cannot afford to pay their utility bills."

The capitation grant has been increased from €161 to €178 per pupil, an increase of 9%. This grant is meant to pay for heat, light, insurance, cleaning, security, telephone, maintenance and repairs. It is also supposed to cover the cost of all educational resources such as books, software, art & craft materials, educational games and all stationery.

'Given the large proportion of the school budget used on heat, electricity and water, when you consider that these bills have more than doubled in the last two years, it is not difficult to see why the 9% increase will not address the shortfall.', commented Larry Fleming President of the Irish Primary Principals' Network.

IPPN's research today of 7 schools, each with approx. 100 pupils, shows that, in spite of the 9% increase, the deficit over the school year will still be over €14,000 on average (see table 1).

(Table 1)

Contact John Curran, IPPN PRO on (087) 2314259 or Seán Cottrell, IPPN Director on (086) 6478717.