Seven out of ten primary schools have run at a deficit at some stage over the past 12 months and had to rely on cash reserves to cover day-to-day costs due to insufficient core funding from the State, according to a survey carried out by the Catholic Primary School Management Association.
The online survey was conducted over ten days last month and 1,440 schools, or approximately 50% of all Catholic primary schools, responded.
The CPSMA said the survey results present "a sobering snapshot of the challenging financial situation" facing primary schools here.
Schools reported that their heating costs have risen by an average of 37% over the course of the past two years. Electricity costs increased by an average of 35%, and insurance costs by 19% on average during the same period.
More than half of all those who responded said their schools had to fundraise to pay for basic utilities.
Schools also reported other cost increases with one in five citing increased school transport costs. "This significant increase in cost has resulted in schools having to limit educational experiences for pupils," the CPSMA said.
Schools also reported having to pass increased costs onto parents.
Other significant cost increases include classroom resources, stationery and photocopying, with more than one in five schools complaining of price rises in these areas.
The survey found that 21% also indicated a significant increase in the cost of cleaning materials and the cost of hiring contract cleaners over the past two years, noting that the cost had increased during the Covid-19 pandemic and had not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
The CPSMA also said its survey highlights significant financial issues related to the State grant that schools are given out of which staff such as caretakers, secretaries and cleaners are paid. This is called the ancillary grant.
Almost three quarters of schools that responded said they would not have enough money to pay their ancillary staff this year, with the average deficit between grant paid and monies required being €7,166.
"Schools have indicated that they are under huge strain to attempt to honour ancillary staff wages," the CPSMA said.
As well as criticising the inadequacy of current levels of funding, school principals who participated in the survey said they were unable to budget due to a lack of clarity around when and if some grants would be paid.
The survey invited comments from school principals and the CPSMA said the responses received highlight the stress that financial uncertainty is causing school managers.
"The survey has highlighted many principals feeling burned out and dissatisfied with their role due to the financial constraints being placed upon them by inadequate funding, with some reporting considering leaving the role of principal due to the stress and worry associated with money," the organisation said.
The report contains quotes from anonymous school principals with one stating: "Waiting for grants and not knowing when they will come in is exhausting and stressful. I intend leaving the role this year and one of the major factors is the stress of trying to spread so little money across the school service."
'Fumes are running out' for schools
The General Secretary of the CPSMA has called for more supports for primary schools in Budget 2025.
Speaking on RTÉ News at One, Seamus Mulconry said: "There isn't enough money in the system to pay for the basic running costs, we need an injection of cash immediately or a very solid reassurance to schools that sufficient funds will be made available in the next budget, and early on in the school year."
Mr Mulconry added that schools have no choice but to fundraise, saying that they "have been running on fumes for too long, and the fumes are running out."
The Department of Education has responded to the survey findings by pointing to additional funding provided to schools in recent budgets to meet their increased running costs.
It said this has included substantial cost of living supports and permanent increases to the rates of capitation paid per pupil enrolled in schools.
It said that in the budget for this year, €21 million was secured as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs.
This means that from September the basic capitation rate will increase from €183 per pupil at primary level to €200, and at post-primary from €316 per student to €345.
Enhanced rates will also be paid to schools for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Traveller pupils.
The department said this represents an increase of circa 9.2% on the current standard and enhanced capitation rates.
It said budget 2024 would also see an additional €60 million provided to schools from this coming September to support increased running costs.
This funding is in addition to €90 million provided in Budget 2023.
The department said it would continue to seek and prioritise the additional funding required to meet the ongoing costs of running schools as part of the annual estimates process.
