Minister to audit private school spending [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 04 January 2012
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has announced he is to launch an investigation into how private schools are using the fees they receive.
A survey by the Irish Times revealed these establishments take in more than 120 million euros annually from parents, in addition to the 100 million euros in funding they receive from the state for teacher salaries.
Therefore, Mr Quinn authorised an audit in order to examine income and expenditure based on fee rates and the number of pupils at a facility.
"In this way the additional or discretionary income available to fee-charging schools relative to other schools can be assessed," he said.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Plea to Protestant fee-pay schools [Independent.ie]
- Published: 04 January 2012
A Church of Ireland archbishop has called on fee-charging Protestant schools to open their books to state officials.
Dr Michael Jackson encouraged schools under Church of Ireland management to take part in a Department of Education study on spending.
Dr Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin, welcomed the audit by the Republic's Education Minister Ruairi Quinn.
"This initiative provides an opportunity for all such schools to show the ways in which fee income is being used to supplement the resources of individual schools," he said.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Irish private schools take in €227m annually [IrishTimes]
- Published: 03 January 2012
BACKGROUND: Fee-paying schools generate more than €120 million annually in gross fee income, writes PETER McGUIRE
THE 56 fee-paying schools in the State have two main forms of income – revenue received from parents for fees and support from the State for teacher salaries. Some also receive some support for capital but this has been reduced dramatically in recent years as support for private schools has become more politically sensitive.
Private schools stress that they do not receive capitation and other supports given to schools within the “free” State system. Many also provide scholarships, bursaries and other supports for disadvantaged students. This should be borne in mind when looking at the gross fee income figures on this page. In the vast majority of cases, this figure overstates the amount of discretionary income available to those schools.
That said, the figures underline how many schools in the fee-paying sector receive considerable income from fees and from the State.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Not all fee-paying schools are created equal [IrishTimes]
- Published: 03 January 2012
The audit ordered by the Minister for Education is likely to herald changes in funding but he must first find out which schools are well-heeled and which are struggling, writes SEAN FLYNN, Education Editor
YOU COULD hardly blame some in the fee-paying sector for feeling somewhat under siege these days. The sector has had to absorb a great deal of negative publicity in recent years.
The schools have been targeted by the current Government and the previous administration for pupil-teacher ratio cuts. Budget 2012 increased the pupil-teacher ratio in the fee-paying schools from 20:1 to 21:1; this cut was not imposed on most schools in the State system.
The decision to target fee-paying schools reflects anger – especially among the Labour grassroots and the Teachers’ Union of Ireland, whose members mostly teach in the vocational and comprehensive/community schools.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Quinn sets up audit into how private schools spend €120m fees [IrishTimes]
- Published: 03 January 2012
MINISTER FOR Education Ruairí Quinn has asked his officials to investigate how fee-paying schools spend the €120 million they receive from parents. The investigation – due to begin soon – will also examine State investment in these schools, including funding for teachers.
An Irish Times survey published today reveals how the 56 fee-paying schools get more than €120 million in fee income annually, in addition to the €100 million they receive from the State for teacher salaries.
The survey shows how the fee income at several schools exceeds €5 million a year. These include Clongowes Wood College, Co Kildare, and Blackrock College, Willow Park School and St Andrew’s College in south Dublin.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
