Funding cuts ‘force schools to rely on parents’

Government funding cuts, inability to reclaim Vat and restrictions on bulk buying force schools to rely more on parents to stay open, school managers have said.

The Oireachtas education committee brought in representatives of school managers to discuss how to better manage back-to-school costs for parents. Labour TD and former primary principal Aodhán Ó Riordáin said management groups must show greater leadership and send schools guidelines on costs for parents, particularly on uniform policies.

A survey of West Cork schools by Labour TD Michael McCarthy has found they must run an average five fundraising events a year. But TDs and senators were told that much of the fundraising schools have to do is a direct result of issues politicians can influence.