Cash-strapped schools turn to charity for help [herald.ie]
- Published: 06 July 2009
A leading charity is getting an increasing number of calls from schools and creches seeking financial help.
Schools are being forced to ask St Vincent de Paul for funds during the recession, as Government funds are limited and parents can no longer help with school costs.
The charity gave a "generous donation" to a small creche facility in Dublin's inner city this month, just as the creche was about to shut its doors.
Cllr Christy Burke (Independent) told the Herald: "Government departments should hang their heads in shame when schools have to go virtually cap in hand begging to organisations for help.
"One of the high priorities is that we need low-fee child minding. Creches throughout the city are experiencing absolutely terrible times trying to stay open."
He said the creche had a €5,000 shortfall, and its only option was to turn to charity.
"Here we have an ideal creche that caters for 22 children, near enough close its doors. St Vincent de Paul has come out of the traps and given the money," he added.
A spokesperson for St Vincent de Paul, Jim Walsh, told the Herald: "We are finding more and more schools around the country are requesting us for funds in relation to homework clubs and books.
"It's now not just from individuals but from schools. Now, to make a donation to a school wouldn't be unusual.
"€3.4m was spent in 2007 by St Vincent de Paul on educational support, everything from pre-schools to PhD candidates, to low-income families. It would seem this has increased," he added.
St Vincent de Paul estimates that it is spending more than €1m a week in donations to people right across the board, not just in education.
Homework
Mr Walsh said all sectors in education are turning to the charity for help to cope with the cost of running schools.
"We can only speculate at the moment, but an increasing number of schools need help in their additional programmes, like homework clubs."
He added that the schools' summer break will not lead to a lapse in calls.
"We've already started to get calls this month, so we anticipate that we'll get more from schools over the summer, and from families, since the Government withdrew the school book grant."
A spokesperson for the Irish Primary Principals' Network confirmed that schools are in difficulty as a result of grants being reduced or scrapped.
