Schools welcome rise in funding to reduce burden on parents from 'voluntary' contributions

Education Minister Norma Foley: 'I accept that schools do have autonomy, the phrase itself is "voluntary", but we are asking schools to be mindful of the pressures being placed on parents.' Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photo

Schools should be mindful of the burden placed on parents when seeking voluntary contributions, according to the Education Minister.

It comes as Norma Foley announced the funding to assist schools with their day-to-day running costs will increase this year.

Further details of the Department of Education’s almost €12bn budget for 2025 were released on Wednesday.

The capitation rate is set to increase from €200 to €224 per student in primary schools and from €345 to €386 per student in post-primary schools.

This funding covers schools’ utilities such as heating and electricity, the majority of which have skyrocketed in recent years amid rocketing inflation.

This increase is expected to cost €30m, with an additional €45m to be made available to schools in cost-of-living supports. 

Shortfalls in this overall funding force schools to seek additional financial support either through voluntary contributions, fundraising, or a combination of both.

A recent survey published by the Catholic Primary School Management Association found 70% of primary schools had experienced a deficit in the 12 months prior.

Budget 2025 sees measures likely to prove popular with parents, such as the introduction of free schoolbooks to all senior cycle students, continued reduced school transport fees and the waiving of State exams fees for another year.

On Wednesday, the minister referenced one parent she met recently who described feeling as if stuck on a “hamster wheel” when it came to school costs.

“We’re doing all that we can,” she said, adding schools also work hard to reduce costs for parents. 

“I accept that schools do have autonomy, the phrase itself is ‘voluntary’, but we are asking schools to be mindful of the pressures being placed on parents.

"I acknowledge the great work that schools do to recognise the burden on parents but we’re providing more and more funding now and we’re asking that they continue to be cognisant of that going forward.

“It is a very significant increase.

“I don’t for one minute underestimate the challenges and the difficulties boards of management and school leadership face.”

The Catholic Primary School Management Association welcomed Wednesday's announcement. 

"Schools are currently running on empty and a major cash injection is needed to support them between now and Christmas," said general secretary Seamus Mulconry. 

"We also welcome the 12% increase in capitation to €224. It will not solve all the financial pressures facing schools, but it is a welcome and significant step in the right direction towards financial sustainability for schools." 

Separately, Special Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton condemned the lack of appropriate school places for children with additional needs.

Her department is currently working on a common application process and funding has been provided to the National Council for Special Education to forward plan for September 2025.

“What we have is parents applying to 20 [to] 30 different schools for their child with additional needs, that is just not acceptable,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Government plans to spend €9m on specially designed pouches to lock away teenager’s phones for the school day through an initiative hoping to ban smartphones in post-primary schools.

Further details were highlighted on Wednesday. It is expected that each pouch will cost between €20 to €30, and will be bought in bulk to bring the price down.

Schools will be able to control when students can access their phones through a central mechanism, according to the minister.

Ms Foley said she was very conscious mobile phone use in schools was a huge issue for parents. The funding will allow for students to get a “mental health break” away from their phones during the school day, she said.

“I believe this will be an important and supportive, positive wellbeing initiative among pupils throughout our schools because it will allow them to learn in the classroom, make friends in school without the distractions that arise from the use of mobile phones.” 

She ruled out other storage options already available to schools, such as lockers and school bags, as students can still access their phones throughout the day between classes.

Teachers and other school staff are already constantly monitoring whether or not students have their mobile phones on their person, she added.

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“There is a clear-cut rule across the school now. There is no access to the phone at all throughout the day.” 

International research on smartphones is “incontrovertible”, Ms Foley said.

“Students perform better when they take a break from the mobile phone.”