Longford teachers demand an end to chronic underfunding of primary schools

Two Longford teachers - Irene Brady and Carmel Browne - led the calls for an end to chronic underfunding of primary schools at the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) Annual Congress today in Derry.

INTO members have called for capitation funding for primary and special schools to be brought in line with that paid to voluntary secondary schools.

Prior to the pandemic and the current cost-of-living crisis, schools were already struggling to meet basic expenditure. In Budget 2024, the INTO called for a 20% increase in the school capitation grant to better fund schools and reduce the burden on parents who currently provide additional financial support.

Following the release of the budget in October 2024, the INTO acknowledged the restoration of the primary capitation grant to 2011 levels – as from next September they will rise from €183 to €200 per pupil per annum. The union also welcomed the additional €60 million in cost of living supports for schools. However, very few of the costs that the capitation grant is intended to cover have remained at the level that applied when the grant was last €200 per pupil thirteen years ago.

Teachers speaking at the conference deplored the difficult financial state that schools find themselves in as a result of inadequate funding.

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Throughout the INTO’s lengthy and intensive campaign to have capitation rates restored the union has also been highlighting the significant differential between the level of capitation in primary and post-primary.

From next September a child attending a primary school will be funded to the level of €200 whereas a child at post-primary will accrue €345. In that regard, the INTO wrote to the Secretary General Bernie Mc Nally in January 2024 seeking a root and branch review of the funding of primary and special education.

Irene Brady, Longford Branch said, “To help cover the day-to-day administration and running expenses of primary schools, the Department of Education and Skills provides capitation grants each year.

"These grants are used for various purposes such as heating, cleaning, lighting, maintaining school premises, and providing teaching and learning resources. However, the current standard rate of capitation grant is €183 per pupil at Primary level and €316 for secondary schools. This funding disparity is grossly unfair.”

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INTO Vice-President Carmel Browne, will be installed as President later today, Wednesday, April 3, said: “Members of school communities are acutely aware that without fundraising undertaken locally by Boards of Management and contributions made by parents and staff members very few schools would ever make ends meet. Schools must not be expected to fundraise to meet basic expenses and parents must not be relied upon to keep schools afloat.

"The current level of primary school funding places intolerable burdens on school principals, teachers and parents and further disadvantages pupils in DEIS schools.

"We remain deeply concerned about the precarious nature of school finances. It is clear that a major review of the approach to funding has to be conducted. Funding must reflect the real operating costs of primary schools. The INTO also believes that as part of any review consideration needs to be given to the timing of capitation payments as the current approach of two moieties per annum may no longer be suitable.

"The union believes that every child has the right to attend a school that is comfortable, bright, adequately heated and ventilated with appropriate furniture and technology.

"We will continue to advocate for higher investment in primary and special education. Until the Irish government gets serious about investment in primary education, which is languishing 10% below the OECD average our children will continue to be short-changed during their primary schooling.”

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