Cautious welcome for funding

A TREBLING of public funding for the organisation helping the fastest-growing sector of primary education has been given a cautious welcome.

Educate Together said the €120,000 funding announced by Education Minister Mary Hanafin would go a long way, but added much more money is needed to sustain the growth in demand for multi-denominational schools.

The organisation is involved in half of the 16 schools which have applied for State recognition and funding next year, which will bring the number of Educate Together schools to more than 40.

A spokeswoman said: “The increased funding is warmly welcome but it is nowhere near what we need to roll out a network of schools and continue working with local groups to develop multi-denominational education.”

The management body for Church of Ireland primary schools is to receive a similar increase in State funding, from €40,000 to €120,000.

The Catholic Primary School Managers Association (CPSMA) also welcomed a 50% increase in its annual funding, bringing it to €152,000 next year.

The association represents the boards of most of the country’s 3,300 primary schools.

CPSMA general secretary Fr Dan O’Connor said: “This very generous extra money will help run our office and to pay training costs borne by each diocese.”

Ms Hanafin also announced grants of €10,000 for all new schools towards the training of boards and staff.

She also said she will allow new schools to appoint their principal ahead of their first school year to help prepare before opening.

“I am confident the enhanced level of funding for school management organisations will enable them to provide support to their existing and newly establishing schools. I am also pleased to be in a position to provide additional support to newly establishing schools,” Ms Hanafin said.