Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the House to take this issue. Yesterday, the Catholic Primary School Management Association, or CPSMA, released a study on foot of its commission to Grant Thornton to carry out an analysis of the funding situation in most of our primary schools. The analysis highlights the major problems which have been caused to schools as a result of cuts in capitation and their accumulated impact since 2010. The capitation rate was cut from €200 per pupil to €170 per pupil in 2010 and, unfortunately, no progress has been made to reverse that. The report lays out in very stark terms the impact of the cuts and the fact that so many of our primary schools are struggling to meet their basic overheads and pay for heat, light, insurance and so on.

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These are basic overheads which are not fully funded by the State. The reduction in the capitation grant has varied to some extent between schools, depending on the size of the schools. In small schools, the capitation grant is worth about €26,000, or 42% of their day-to-day spending. In a medium school, the average capitation grant is €57,000 which meets just over half of its spending. In a larger school, the average capitation grant is €114,000 which represents about 61% of spending. The level of State funding for those basic items in schools falls far short of what is required to provide for a basic environment and conditions for students in order for them to function properly.

We hear all the time how the economy has turned the corner and there has been impressive growth in the past several years. We are told how matters are back on track while many of the cuts to pay and other funding have been reversed. There has been an element of tax cuts and the Government frequently talks about how it hopes to introduce further tax cuts. It is the height of folly in my view and highly irresponsible, however, to talk about the prospect of tax cuts when our primary schools do not have a basic level of funding that allows them to operate satisfactorily and in some kind of manner which one would have a right to expect in the present day and age.

Over recent years, children have disproportionately carried the burden of the recession. This is definitely borne out in respect of our primary schools. The conditions and the climate in primary schools are completely inadequate in terms of providing the right kind of atmosphere for children to learn well. Requests for voluntary contributions put significant pressures on children themselves and on their parents, while the shortfall in funding puts enormous pressure on schools. Increasingly, principals and teachers have to engage in basic fundraising to cover overheads. This is a diversion of attention from educational welfare and concerns to matters such as organising draws and sales of work. In this day and age, it is time to end that. Will the Minister give a commitment to reverse those cuts as a matter of urgency?

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