The Clare President of the INTO insists the level of state funding for primary schools is “insufficient and inadequate”.
It comes as it has emerged primary schools across the country are struggling to cover costs, with parents being forced to meet the shortfall where state funding runs out.
Figures compiled for the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association reveal that on average, schools get around 46,000 euro per year from the state for operating costs.
However, the average bills total 91,000 – and this shortfall is being put onto parents’ shoulders, with the association saying parents donate up to 46 million euro a year to meet running costs.
Corofin native Joe Killeen is the new President of the INTO, which represents over 36,000 primary school teachers, outlines why the shortfall is there.
The research has led to the CPSMA to call for capitation to be restored to €200 per annum per child, to meet the shortfall currently being experienced.
The association says the current capitation grant covers just 52% of the overall cost of running a school and has labelled the 46 million being donated by parents as a “stealth tax”.
These parents in Clare have been sharing their thoughts on the cost of educating their children.
