Principals at ‘breaking point’, Dail told

Primary school principals are “pleading for help”, the Dail has heard.

Social Demcorats leader Holly Cairns told the Oireachtas that costs of running primary schools have soared.

During Leaders’ Questions, she said: “Over the past two years, heating costs have risen by an average of 37%, electricity costs by 35% and insurance by 19%.

“Seven out of 10 primary schools have been running a deficit in the last 12 months.

“Almost three quarters do not even have enough money to pay for cleaners and caretakers, more than half have had to fundraise for basic utilities.

“On top of all of that, 28% of schools have a long-term vacancy rate with that figure rising to 51% for delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS band 1 schools and gaelscoileanna and 48% for special schools.”

Ms Cairns asked Tanaiste Micheal Martin: “Is it any wonder that many principals and their schools are at breaking point?”

The Social Democrat leader said schools do not have the funding, staff or the resources they need to operate.

She said principals are working after hours to clean toilets and mop floors due to a lack of funding for sanitation staff.

She added: “They have to leave classrooms to fix broken pipes and clean up leaks from them, and they feel as though they cannot speak publicly about the issues affecting their schools for fear that their enrolment numbers will go down and that the problems will only worsen from there.

“This is causing burnout and 75% of principals have considered quitting.”

Ms Cairns said the problem also affects teachers who are working in “under-resourced and high-pressure environments”.

She added: “It is affecting parents and, crucially, it is affecting students.”

Ms Cairns also said families are not getting the special education teaching hours they need.

Representing the Government, Mr Martin said the Irish primary education system has been shown to be “one of the best in Europe”.

He said: “Our system is very high up there in terms of outcomes and that needs to be said, because Deputy Cairns’ narrative was one of unrelenting misery and almost of a system that was not effective at all.

“The system has grown enormously. The number of teachers has grown enormously and is up dramatically.

“This Government has significantly reduced the pupil-teacher ratio and the Deputy did not acknowledge that in her presentation.”

Mr Martin, an ex-teacher and former education minister, added that the Government had expanded the hot-meals programme and the DEIS programme.

He said it had also increased the number of new special schools and special needs assistants.

Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin (Brian Lawless/PA)

He added: “I accept that there are challenges, but it is not good enough to come in and say that everything is miserable and a disaster without giving the other side of the coin.

“The fact is that huge resources, both capital and current, have been put into education over the last three to four years.”

The Tanaiste said a free books scheme had been brought in for students up to junior certificate level.

Mr Martin said he had helped establish the Irish Primary Principals’ Network during his time as education minister.

Ms Cairns said principals feel that funding is not being directed in the right place, with one school leader stating that the contract for the hot-school meals costs 160,000 euro – which is more than the school received for all the other costs they are covering.

She added: “While they welcome it, they cannot pay for basic things like cleaning the school so they do not feel like the funding has been allocated in the right place and I think they make a very valid point.”

Ms Cairns also said that increased funding for DEIS schools is “being swallowed up” as they are unable to fundraise in the same way as other schools.

She added: “It is therefore not meeting the extra needs that the DEIS schools have.

“They really welcome the book scheme, but they are telling us loudly and clearly that it is not covering the cost of books.”

Mr Martin said the funding in the books scheme was adequate.

He also said that Special Educational Needs Organisers will play a “more pro-active role” in assisting parents securing places for their children, rather than mothers and fathers “having to chase down schools”.