Parents set to pay up as schools face shortfall

PARENTS and local communities could be asked to raise one-third of the budgets of the country’s secondary schools again next year because of an €18 million shortfall in government funding, a report to the Department of Education warns.

Some schools could have to raise up to €250,000 just to provide the same services as those in schools fully funded by the State, according to the pre-budget submission of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB).

The JMB represents the boards of the 394 schools in the voluntary secondary sector, run or previously run by the religious orders.