Insurance ‘crippling primary schools’

PRIMARY schools are being crippled by spiralling insurance costs which are running at up to six times higher than the figure Education Minister Noel Dempsey gave the Dáil.

An Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) survey of insurance costs in five primary schools shows that schools are paying far more than the estimate given recently in the Dáil by Mr Dempsey.

"The reality is that schools are paying four, five or six times the minister's estimate," said INTO general secretary John Carr.

Last week, Mr Dempsey said the per capita element of insurance in schools was about €5 per pupil.

"On this basis, a l00-pupil school should be able to get insurance for about €500. House insurance costs more than this," said Mr Carr.

The INTO's survey found that a 470-pupil school in Waterford was paying €10,000 in insurance €21 per pupil. Another school in Waterford with 93 pupils was paying €3,000 €32 per pupil.

The total insurance bill for a 480-pupil school in Cork came to €11,400 €24 per pupil, while a 100-pupil school, also in Cork, was paying €2,500, or €25 per pupil.

A 200-pupil Dublin school was paying €6,500 for insurance cover €32 per pupil.

"None of the above schools had a claims history which would affect the premium being charged," Mr Carr added.

The minister also predicted that the average increase for primary schools insurance would be somewhat less than 10%.

That, said Mr Carr, was four or five times the predicted rate of inflation and would mean that next year schools would have even less money to spend on educational resources.

"Once more, teachers and parents will be expected to fund-raise to pay for inadequate Government funding," Mr Carr added.

The minister also declared in the Dáil that he would not put responsibility on the taxpayer for the insurance costs of private property.

Mr Carr pointed out that, since the mid-70s, boards of management have been able to use Exchequer funds for insurance purposes. Prior to that, school owners had to insure schools.

The minister said the department was currently engaged with the insurance companies to see if there was anything that could be done to keep insurance payments down. He said, at second-level, it was anticipated that there would be no cost increases this year and the average increase for primary schools would be somewhat less than 10%.

"However, I will not take responsibility for the taxpayer for the insurance costs of private property," the minister said in the Dáil.

"There has been much talk over the past 24 hours on the issue of tribunals etc.," said Mr Dempsey. "I do not wish to be involved in one in a few years time or to have somebody asking me why I took this road."