Baking For Budgets: Local Schools Resort To Bake Sales To Fund Vital Caretaker Roles

Recent correspondence obtained by Kfm shows a collaborative effort among several school principals to address the funding dilemma.

Some local schools are relying on bake sales and the kindness of students and parents to fund their caretaker due to a lack of funding from the Department of Education.

Local Principal at Scoil Mhuire NS in Ballymore Eustace, Peter Roche, said the Government only provided the school with €5000 to fund their caretaker for the next year.

The money was only allocated a few weeks ago - five months into 2024.

Peter said the caretaker role is vital for the school.

Recent correspondence obtained by Kfm shows a collaborative effort among several school principals to address the funding dilemma.

In an email addressed to the Department of Education, one principal lamented that the grant provided would scarcely cover two hours per week at minimum wage, asserting that this allocation is grossly inadequate.

They were told by the Department that capitation and ancillary services grants could be combined and that the school could use some of its capitation grant to pay the caretaker.

However, the principal of that school argued that the the capitation grant was not enough to cover the running costs of the school at present, including lighting, heating, cleaning, and insurance, etc.

The principal said a spokesperson for the Department acknowledged that principals were under a lot of stress and suffering from anxiety as a result of financial pressures.

In response to a recent parliamentary question about pay for caretakers, Minister For Education Norma Foley acknowledged that caretakers are valued and vital members of the school system.

She said the majority of primary and post-primary schools receive assistance to provide for caretaker services under grant schemes.

She added that where a school employs a caretaker under these grant schemes to support those functions,the schools are responsible for conditions of employment such as contracts as well as rates of pay.

She said that at present work is ongoing in her Department to develop a comprehensive survey which will enable officials to "confirm their understanding of the current working patterns as well as the terms and conditions" of work for school caretakers.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education has announced cuts for primary schools this September.

Just one year on from the roll-out of free books, schools are faced with a funding cut of 16 euro per pupil.

The drop from 96 euro to 80 euro is due to funding for the free schoolbook scheme being front-loaded last year, according to the Department.