Parents forced to dig deep to complete school projects
The union said the devolved grant scheme, in which funding and management of projects is given directly to schools, provides nowhere near the cost of work done.
The scheme was piloted in 2003 with 20 schools but had a budget of €46 million for 191 projects last year.
INTO general secretary John Carr said schools have to resort to fundraising or lending to make up shortfalls and are being pressured to opt into the scheme.
Principal of Walshestown National School, Co Louth, Declan Breathnach said his school accepted a devolved grant when the department made clear that the alternative was to wait years for work to be done under the traditional school building programme.
However, the school only received €350,000 for work which cost €590,000 and the shortfall of €240,000 had to be raised by the local community, he said.
“This task, in a school of 100 children, fell to 64 parents. We built the minimum necessary to implement the curriculum but repeated requests for retrospective funding were refused,” he said.
Carrakennedy National School in Westport, Co Mayo, has refused two offers of a devolved grant.
The poor condition of the 100-year-old building was earmarked for urgent priority in a recent Commission on School Accommodation report.
Principal Margaret Lacy said the board of management wants the new school built under the main building programme, as it will cost €1.4m, but the department is only offering a devolved grant of €250,000.
The Department of Education said complaints that the grant level is inadequate are difficult to accept as the scope of works is determined by the school and the decision to proceed with a project is taken by schools themselves.
A spokeswoman said the key to the initiative is the exercise of due diligence and management responsibility by school authorities.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
