Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)

It is scandalous that, every year, schools are forced to rely on so-called voluntary contributions from parents to plug funding gaps due to the Government's failure to provide proper investment. Parents already pay €54 million in contributions and now, as the funding crisis in schools escalates, it looks like they will be asked to pay even more. The Catholic Primary School Management Association, CPSMA, says it has never been contacted by as many schools in financial distress as it was last year. It says that voluntary contributions will have to be increased unless the Government steps up with realistic funding. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, has committed an extra €24 per child in capitation, but this goes nowhere near covering increased insurance, energy and electricity costs. As with the €1,000 third level fee increase, if last year's cost-of-living package is not repeated, schools will be down funding next year. Will the Minister assure parents that schools will be adequately funded and will not have to bear the financial burden of so-called free education? Will there be a cost-of-living package for schools?

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