Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the matter of the Minister's plans for fee-paying schools and their place in the future provision of education. Some 26,000 pupils are being educated in 55 fee-paying schools in the country. It was announced in the budget that the pupil-teacher ratio would be increased to 23:1 in fee-paying schools from next September. This follows on from last year's increase in the pupil-teacher ratio. It is estimated this measure will save the Department ¤2 million in 2013 and ¤6 million in 2014.

The cost to the State of educating a pupil in a fee-paying school is ¤4,500 per year while the cost of educating a pupil in a non-fee-paying school is ¤8,000 per year. This means a saving to the State of ¤3,500 per pupil per year. Many parents, teachers and pupils are concerned about the future of their school should this increase in pupil-teacher ratio continue or if funding were not available. If even 10% of the 26,000 pupils were to leave the fee-paying schools this year and opt for places in the non-fee paying schools, it is estimated this will cost the State ¤9 million. The issue of capacity in the free education system also arises. The Minister has stated that schools may enter the free education system but pupils will also leave fee-paying schools and look for places in the non-fee-paying schools. I can foresee the issue of capacity arising in the schools in my own area should the fee-paying schools no longer exist. I hope it will not get to that point.

I am articulating the concerns of these schools. Does the Minister foresee them continuing in existence? In many cases, parents have opted for a fee-paying school in order to have their children educated in a certain religious ethos. These parents are taxpayers and this is how they have chosen to spend their after-tax income. The figures do not bear out the argument that the system is unfair. In fact, the figures show that the fee-paying schools are saving the State. At a time when the Minister wants to reduce the departmental budget, it would be a retrograde step to continue to support the fee-paying schools sector.

Parents need to have certainty with regard to the future of fee-paying schools when they are considering the long-term educational needs of their children. It is certain that the increase in the pupil-ratio will result in higher fees.