Schools may be forced to hire out halls

Cash-strapped schools could be forced to hire out halls and classrooms for childcare to benefit fully from increased Government funding for their running costs.

The plan for community groups and private providers to bid for access to school facilities for after-school childcare is set out in the programme for government. However, teachers warn that the proposal needs major clarification and want answers to questions around who would upgrade the buildings and whether older schools might lose out on promised funding rises.

While Education Minister Richard Bruton has committed to honour plans in the programme for government to increase funding for rising running costs, there is no certainty yet by how much, or over what period.

Since 2011, the rate at which capitation grants are paid to primary and second-level schools each year for essential costs, as well as for use on classroom materials, has been cut by 11%.

Mr Bruton said this week that the Government will not allow a situation to develop where schools have to close.

He was responding to Department of Education advice that some schools risk being forced to shut where running costs could not be met — the exact same warning given when Jan O’Sullivan became education minister in July 2014.

The programme for government says extra capitation would be linked to provision of buildings for after-school care, where demand exists.

“Community groups and private providers will be invited to tender to use school facilities, outside school hours,” it says.

However, the primary teachers’ union said the issue raises questions over the possibility of schools with inadequate facilities or poor transport losing out on additional funding to keep classes lit and heated. The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) said many school premises are unsuitable for the task and would need significant upgrading and development.

“Schools should certainly be open to the local community to the greatest possible extent, but a programme of capital funding would be required to develop after-school care facilities in schools, including provision for meals,” said INTO assistant general secretary Peter Mullan.

“The proposal lacks clarity, so comprehensive and detailed proposals would need to be developed by the department in which parents could have confidence.”

The Department of Education said the detail of the new programme is being examined.

“The commitments in relation to the provision of school facilities for after-school care will involve engagement with the relevant stakeholders,” a spokesperson said. “The Government has indicated that one of the key priorities for the first 100 days is engagement between Government and education partners on new after-school care arrangements.”

The department added that commitments to increase capitation funding for schools will be considered in the context of the budgetary process. The programme for government promises annual increases in primary and second-level capitation rates, which are paid on the basis of a set amount for every registered student.

However, because of growing school populations, the 11% cut from 2011 to 2015 has not resulted in any savings. Between 2013 and 2015 alone, the amount paid to primary schools rose from €186m to €190m.