Schools may challenge grant cuts
- Published: 27 November 2008
Source : Irish Examiner
By Niall Murray, Education Correspondent
THE axing of second-level grants — worth almost €1.3 million in the budget — could be challenged in the courts because they are due to take effect in the middle of the school year.
The organisation representing the boards of almost 400 secondary schools is awaiting legal advice on whether the withdrawal of some grants by Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe would breach the 1998 Education Act.
He announced in the budget that a range of payments to primary and second level schools are being abolished from next year.
Among them is the grant of €100 payable to 540 schools for each of around 25,500 students on the transition year programme.
One-third of the estimated €2.55 million due to schools, which offer the transition year option, was to have been paid in March but will not now be delivered, leaving larger schools around €3,000 short on their budget.
Similarly, one-third of the Leaving Certificate Applied grant, worth €158.72 for each of more than 7,000 students on the programme will not be paid in the spring as had been expected.
The Joint Managerial Body (JMB) believes the planned cuts would breach section 12 of the act which requires the minister to publish annually the criteria by which schools are to be funded in the following school year.
Mr O'Keeffe's spokesperson confirmed last night that no further payments of either grant will be made next year as all the budget changes take effect from January 1. But, he said, Mr O'Keeffe does not accept that he has contravened the Education Act by cutting the grants in the budget.
He also stressed that while some grants will be abolished, funding for day-to-day running costs of second level schools will rise by 4.3%, giving a secondary school with 500 students an extra €11,000 next year when other increases are also factored.
