Catholic schools ‘face closure’ over funding

Religious-owned secondary schools risk possible closure unless the Government reviews their less favourable public funding, a Catholic education group has said.

The Catholic Schools Partnership said a review of the curricular and financial realities facing schools should take place as part of a restructuring needed in the relationship between voluntary secondary schools and the State.

Religious-owned secondary schools make up just over half of all 723 second-level schools, but their numbers have been declining in the last 30 years due to closures and amalgamations. The CSP says most Catholic secondary schools are not viable without fundraising, and at levels which are not sustainable by charitable and voluntary organisations.

“It also places a huge burden on school management,” said a CSP spokesperson. “In particular, there are serious concerns about the workload carried by principals in Catholic secondary schools as a result of increased administrative burdens and recent cuts in resources, both in terms of finance and personnel,”

CSP was set up in 2010 by Catholic bishops and religious orders, and has been prominent in the debate on patronage and pluralism in primary schools. However, it began a review of Catholic schools provision at second-level last year, resulting in a report published yesterday that sets out the sector’s future and highlights a range of challenges.

The financial concerns are backed up by an Economic and Social Research Institute study on second-level school governance last year. It found that voluntary schools depend more than others on voluntary contributions from parents and on fundraising, because they receive a significantly lower proportion of their funding from the State.

As well as providing 52% of all second-level schools, which are attended by almost 60% of all students, Catholic bishops, and orders partners with the State in community schools and colleges, making up almost another 20% of second-level schools.

CSP chairman Fr Michael Drumm said the relationship of the voluntary sector with the State needs to be clarified.

“This should take account of the importance of the voluntary sector in the provision of second-level education, and the fact that there are multiple Catholic and other voluntary patrons of schools,” said Fr Drumm.

The ESRI found that 87% of religious-owned secondary schools ask parents for voluntary contributions, compared to less than two-thirds of community and comprehensive (C&C) schools, and only half the 253 vocational schools and community colleges run by Education and Training Boards.

An Oireachtas committee was told in 2012 that voluntary secondary schools receive €212-per-student less than ETB-run schools, and €90 less than C&C schools for every student.