€17m in funds for fee-paying schools criticised by union

A TEACHERS’ union has criticised the payment of almost €17 million from public funds to fee-paying schools towards building costs.

The country’s 59 fee-paying second level schools had almost 26,000 students in 2003, many of them paying more than €3,000 a year.

But Department of Education figures reveal it paid 31 of these schools €16.25m towards capital projects from 1995 to 2004. Teachers Union of Ireland education officer John MacGabhann, said the money would be better spent on almost 700 schools in the non fee-paying sector, which are open to all students but are often poorly equipped.