Greg Daly
The body representing Catholic primary schools throughout Ireland has called on the Government to review how schools are funded, following the delayed payment this weeks of grants that were due last month.
“The late payment of the Minor Works Grant has caused a great deal of unease in schools,” Catholic Primary Schools Management Association head Seamus Mulconry told The Irish Catholic.
“This is traditionally a time when cash is tight and we really need to look at a better way of funding schools, where schools have certainty as to what income they would receive from government during the year,” he said.
“The CPSMA would strongly be arguing for a review of how schools are funded – it would argue strongly that schools need to be funded properly and to have certainty as to the funds they receive from government,” he said, adding that Ireland’s primary schools are underfunded in comparison to schools in comparable countries, receiving just 82% of government funding such schools would receive.
Although welcoming this week’s announcement by Minister Richard Bruton that the delayed funds would be paid next week, Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Education, Thomas Byrne TD told The Irish Catholic it was “outrageous” that some schools had had to turn to banks for overdrafts while they waited for government funding to be issued.
Management
In a statement Mr Byrne said: “The delay in the Minister making the announcement of these grants has caused huge stress for principals and management in schools nationwide. The grant is normally paid in early to mid- November but this year it was unusually and inexplicably delayed.”
Noting a “growing concern” that the grants are seen as optional rather than essential, Mr Byrne said: “The reality is that many schools are forced to use the grant to supplement the inadequate capitation grants. For some smaller schools around the country, the Minor Works Grant can make up almost a third of their yearly budget.”
Such grants should be compulsory and on a statutory basis, he said, adding that a Fianna Fáil Government would legislate for this.