Education chiefs under fire as school building funds unspent [Independent.ie]
- Published: 16 August 2010
MILLIONS of euro earmarked for much-needed school buildings have yet to be spent by the Department of Education, new figures reveal.
A budget of €578m has been allocated for school building projects but just €135m has been drawn down in the first six months of this year.
If this spending trend was to continue, the department could be forced into the embarrassing situation of handing unspent funds back to the Department of Finance.
A storm erupted last October among the 1,200 schools waiting on approval for building works when it emerged the department had only spent 52pc of its school building budget.
However, it is understood that most of the budget was allocated by the end of 2009.
Underspending was blamed on lower building costs, delays arising from a new form of public works contract, and the large number of relatively small projects in school buildings.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Tensions at ABA school over move to back deal [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 16 August 2010
SERIOUS tensions have emerged between the board of management and parents at one of Dublin’s best- known ABA schools for children with autism, over the board’s decision to radically change how the children are taught.
In recent days, the board of management of ABACAS Kilbarrack have agreed to accept the Department of Education’s proposals to change the school from a predominately Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA)- led school to a special school for children with autism and highly complex needs.
Twelve out of the country’s 13 ABA schools voted to accept the deal. The Red Door in Monkstown is the only school to have not yet accepted the department’s letter of offer which was drawn up after years of negotiations.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
The free school myth [IrishTimes]
- Published: 16 August 2010
High-priced books, uniforms and ‘voluntary’ contributions are only the start of it – parents are getting ready to shell out hundreds for what is supposed to be a free education system, writes CONOR POPE
CAN THERE BE A more ugly phrase in the English language than “back to school”? Even typing the words makes Pricewatch feel uncomfortable and it’s been over 20 years since we cast aside our tatty old schoolbag for the very last time.
Of course it is not just the children who go to school who hear these words with dread. Those who have to stump up the cash to send them back there have cause to hate them too. Once the books, uniforms, schoolbags, tracksuits, trainers, sports fees, “voluntary” contributions and a host of other items are accounted for, many parents will spend over €1,000 per child to cover the cost of what is a supposedly free education system.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Department cannot spend money on schools [finegael.org]
- Published: 15 August 2010
Fine Gael Deputy for Dublin South West, Brian Hayes TD, has today (Sunday) revealed that in the first 6 months of this year less than a quarter of the capital allocation for school buildings has been spent by the Department of Education.
“The Minister for Education has confirmed in a Parliamentary Question (See Below) to me that as of the 8th July last, €135 million out of a total of €578 million on school buildings has been spent.
“It’s bad enough that the Government is now reneging on the National Development Plan, but the example of school buildings show that they cannot even spend the money they are given because of gross incompetence. If this trend of expenditure between now and December continues, the Department of Education will have to hand the unspent funds for school buildings back to the Department of Finance. This happened last year and is likely to happen again this year. Something is badly wrong when the Department cannot spend the money they are given to construct new schools and classrooms.
Full Story: www.finegael.org
Coughlan under fire over spending on schools [Independent.ie]
- Published: 15 August 2010
Tanaiste Mary Coughlan is under fire this weekend as new figures reveal that less than a quarter of the schools' building budget was spent in the first six months.
With many school buildings in poor condition, Fine Gael said it was due to "gross incompetence" that the department only spent €135m, out of a total budget of €578m, since January 1.
While a further €78m has been rolled out since June, Fine Gael's former education spokesman Brian Hayes said: "It's bad enough that the Government are now reneging on the National Development Plan, but the example of school buildings shows that they cannot even spend the money they are given, because of gross incompetence."
The senator added: "If this trend of expenditure continues between now and December, the Department of Education will have to hand back to the Department of Finance unspent funds for school buildings. This happened last year and is likely to happen again this year."
Full Story: www.independent.ie
