State ‘must pay’ if schools open to communities

THE Government wants schools to open up more to their local communities, but principals have warned the extra costs should be paid by the State.

Second-level principals said any additional insurance costs should be covered by the Department of Education, because many schools are already struggling to pay premiums.

National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) president Michael Parsons made the call after a recent letter from the department urged the country’s 3,300 primary schools and 400 voluntary secondary schools to make facilities available to their local communities for education and recreation.

Mr Parsons said reality should prevail and the department should help meet any extra costs involved.

“We would welcome making schools open to communities but we would also expect societies and organisations which can pay should make a contribution towards the costs,” he said.

“But if they are not able to do so, there should be extra funding from the department for the school,” said Mr Parsons, whose association represents the heads of second-level schools.

Frank Wyse, the department’s director of regional services, said schools should ensure, where facilities are being made available, that arrangements are made to cover additional costs for insurance, heating, lighting and maintenance.

He also recommended that licence agreements and contracts be drawn up between schools and groups using facilities, that these groups should have public liability cover and enough insurance.

Education Minister Mary Hanafin linked the provision of extra community access to schools with the possibility of greater funding in an interview with the Irish Examiner last October.

Unlike vocational schools which are completely State- funded, voluntary secondary schools must pay insurance and other running costs from department grants based on student numbers.

The Joint Managerial Body, representing boards of secondary schools, has said underfunded schools are already making their facilities available for night classes and local sports clubs.