Parents funding the education system to the tune of €23m annually, Oireachtas committee hears

The number of schools who turned to the Department of Education for help with financial issues last year almost doubled, from 31 in 2023/24 to 61. Picture: iStock

Parents are funding the education system to the tune of €23m annually, yet an Oireachtas committee heard of one school cutting back on music and paper towels to keep afloat.

The Oireachtas education committee met with officials from the Department of Education and Youth to discuss the funding paid to schools through capitation and ancillary grants.