Calls for State to 'fund schools properly' and abolish voluntary contributions

Analysis found that inflation for schools since 2010 has been over 10% higher than general inflation

In its 'Back to School' survey for 2026, children's charity Barnardos found the average amount asked for by schools was €83 in primary and €128 in post-primary. File picture

There have been calls to end voluntary contributions through sustained State funding, as the cost of running a school is estimated to have risen by 30%.

As previously reported by the Irish Examiner, parents funded the 'free' education system in Ireland to the tune of more than €116m in voluntary contributions over the course of five years. This included more than €24.1m received in the 2024/25 school year.

The Catholic Primary School Management Association (CPSMA) said it estimates the gap between State funding and the actual cost of running schools between 2018 and 2025 stood at approximately €130m.

"During this period the cost of running a school rose by 30%, while voluntary contributions rose by just 1.6%," said Seamus Mulconry, CPSMA general secretary. "Schools are doing everything they can to reduce the burden on parents."

This year Verecon Consultants analysed the accounts of 1,521 primary schools, finding 71% were in a capitation-related deficit, he said.

This was even after allowing for locally generated income through voluntary contributions and fundraising. Verecon also demonstrated that inflation for schools since 2010 has been over 10% higher than general inflation.

Mr Mulconry added: "The cost of living crisis has hit schools even harder than the general population. It is only in the last two budgets that we have seen real progress in providing adequate funding for primary schools."

Budget 2027 included a €17m increase in the capitation grants paid to schools to help them with their running costs.

In its 'Back to School' survey for 2026, children's charity Barnardos found the average amount asked for by schools was €83 in primary and €128 in post-primary.

Between September 2020 and June 2025, schools recorded receipt of voluntary contributions totalling €116,609,799, new figures show.

The figures were released by education minister Hildegarde Naughton to Labour's education spokesperson and TD for Cork North Central, Eoin Kenny, under parliamentary question (PQ).

Mr Kenny called on the minister to abolish voluntary contributions and "fund schools properly".

He said:

Education should be free. 

"There should be no such thing as a voluntary contribution in public education. These figures show the scale of the money schools collect through a system that puts pressure on parents and leaves principals dependent on what families can afford."

“The department can call these payments voluntary, but that does not reflect how many families experience them. For a family already struggling with the soaring cost of living, another request for money means another difficult choice. 

"No parent should have to worry that an inability to contribute could leave their child feeling different or disadvantaged. Schools need reliable funding to meet their running costs. 

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"Simply telling parents they do not have to pay does nothing to address the funding needs that drive these requests. The minister must end schools’ reliance on contributions by providing adequate, sustained State funding."

In response to Mr Kenny's PQ, Ms Naughton said voluntary contributions by parents are "permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no requirement to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition.

"The manner in which such voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management. However, their collection should be such as not to create a situation where either parents or pupils could reasonably infer that the contributions take on a compulsory character."

She added: "The department's position is that voluntary contributions must remain voluntary in nature and that no pupil should be disadvantaged, either directly or indirectly, where a parent chooses not to make such a contribution. "