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.