Bruton may not deliver on school fund vow; Parents and communities making up €46m cash shortfall

Education Minister Richard Bruton is in danger of failing to deliver a 2016 Government commitment to increase funding for schools, which are being subsidised by parents and local communities to the tune of €46m a year.

The figure has been estimated by consultants as the amount raised locally every year in the primary sector alone, with smaller schools facing the biggest deficits due to shortfalls in public funding.

While school leaders, teachers and parents have been calling for several years for the reversal of recession-era cutbacks to Department of Education grants, Mr Bruton said it is just one of several competing demands he must consider.