A coalition of bodies representing primary and special schools in Ireland have appealed to the Government to address what they say is a growing funding crisis in schools.
In a letter to the Minister for Education and Youth ahead of Budget 2026, they have called for an immediate 33% increase to school capitation as well as substantial increases across school maintainence, ICT and other grants.
All six of the country's primary school patron bodies, as well as primary school staff trade unions, the INTO and Fórsa, are signatories to the letter, as are charities the Children’s Rights Alliance and the Society of St Vincent de Paul.
The letter details significant cost increases that schools have grappled with over recent years.
An analysis of the accounts of just over 700 primary schools, commissioned by the Catholic Primary School Management Association (CPSMA), found that expenditure on heating rose by 83% between 2019 and 2024, accounting and auditing expenses rose by 58%, and costs related to school management information systems trebled.
"Inflation has driven up the costs of essentials such as energy, insurance, cleaning, and teaching resources," said General Secretary of the INTO John Boyle.
"Government’s failure to fund schools has placed an intolerable burden on school communities, with both teachers and parents increasingly involved in fundraising efforts simply to keep the lights on. School leaders have been left under severe stress as they struggle to keep schools running," he added.
Niamh Dalziel of St Vincent de Paul said parents were cutting back on essentials or going into debt to meet voluntary contribution charges.
"Chronic underfunding forces schools to rely on families," she said.
The Irish Primary Principals' Network said welcome investments such as free schoolbooks and hot school meals risked being significantly undermined if schools were struggling to keep the heating on.
"Primary schools have always been underfunded but the cost-of-living crises have pushed them underwater. Schools urgently need an increase in capitation just to stay afloat," Seamus Mulconry, of the CPSMA, said.
