Call for €50 hike in school capitation rate in Budget

Organisations representing primary and special school management and staff have called for an increase in Budget funding to help schools cover essential day-to-day running costs.

They have written to Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton seeking a €50 rise in the basic capitation rate, bringing it from €274 to at least €324 per pupil.

The representative groups say most primary schools are now facing a challenging situation, as they try to pay for energy, insurance, materials, ICT, staff training, cleaning, maintenance and water.

71% of primary schools ran a deficit last year, according to a detailed analysis carried out by independent consultants, Verecon, on almost half of the primary schools in the country.

The average primary school ran a deficit of €8,288 on its capitation-related income while 40% were forced to rely on voluntary contributions from parents to make ends meet.

The groups now want the capitation and the ancillary services grant linked to inflation.

They argue that if this had happened over the last decade, schools would not be dependent on parental contributions and fundraising to meet their basic running costs.

The letter to Ms Naughton was signed by Caoimhín Ó hEaghra of An Foras Pátrúnachta, Ken Fennelly of the Church of Ireland Board of Education, Seamus Mulconry of the CPSMA, Educate Together Chief Executive Emer Nowlan, James Eustace of the Education and Training Board, Andy Pike of Fórsa, Irish Primary Principal's Network Chief Executive Páiric Clerkin, Asiya Altawash of the Muslim Primary Board of Education, and Patricia Harrington of NABMSE.

A spokesperson of the Department of Education said the Government remains committed to funding schools to help them meet day-to-day running costs as set out in the Programme for Government.

They added that recent budgets have delivered increases in capitation funding, including an additional €39 million last year, and overall, the last three budgets have increased capitation rates by almost 50% for primary schools.

"Looking ahead, the priority is to continue to deliver on Programme for Government commitments. Budget 2027 negotiations are ongoing, and any further funding measures will be considered as part of that process," they said.

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