IPPN

Published: 24 April 2009

Source: independent.ie

By John Walshe

FEE-paying schools would have to charge up to €30,000 per student annually if the Government withdrew the yearly €100m taxpayer' subsidy, it was claimed yesterday.

Most of the subsidy is given in the form of teachers' salaries but the Oireachtas committee on education was told that it was simplistic to suggest there would be savings if it were removed.

The Joint Managerial Body (JMB), which represents 400 fee-paying and free education schools, strongly defended the part played by the 56 fee-charging schools -- 35 Catholic, and 21 minority religious -- which between them cater for 26,000 students.

Sr Eileen Randles said the average fee for the four Loreto fee-charging schools was €3,600 a year. If teachers' salaries were not paid for by the State, the fees would rise to between €20,000 and €30,000.

The only other option was to seek to enter the Free Education Scheme, where the teachers' salaries would continue to be paid. Ferdia Kelly, JMB general secretary, said capitation grants of €15m would also have to be paid, as would building and other grants. He argued that fee-paying schools amounted to a substantial saving to the State on its obligation to provide free post primary education.

Representatives strongly rejected Senator Fidelma Healy Eames' claim that "the word on the street is that in fee-paying schools the address and occupation of the parent is what's most important".

Gerry Foley, headmaster of Belvedere College in Dublin city centre, replied: "I can categorically state that that is not the case". Ten percent of Belvedere pupils were classified as Special Educational Needs and this did not include those with physical disabilities, while 10pc were also in receipt of bursaries because they could not afford the fees.

He said that the school was oversubscribed every year but it did not discriminate in favour of bright pupils.

Charges

"There would be as many high-fliers out there not getting a place as there would be kids with special needs not getting a place," he said.

Christopher Woods, principal of Wesley College, also strongly rejected charges that Wesley -- based in Ballinteer, Dublin -- was not taking its fair share of pupils with special needs.

Its intake was comparable with a school in the free education scheme in the area, said Mr Woods, who also strongly criticised the effects of cuts in the budget, which particularly hit minority schools.

Ian Coombes from Bandon Grammar School in Co Cork said his school, like other fee-charging schools, would lose about 10pc of its teachers as well as other staff.

- John Walshe