Scrapping support for fee schools ‘won’t save money’

REMOVING State support for teachers’ salaries at fee-paying schools would save little or no money for taxpayers, school managers claimed last night.

Responding to reports that Education Minister Noel Dempsey wants to stop the €68.5 million annual funding for the 58 such schools, the head of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB) said the move could cost more money than it would save.

Around 1,600 teachers at the fee-paying schools receive their pay cheques from the State, but many schools use their own income to hire extra teachers.