Paul Murphy: Urgent debate after Kille Nardin school closure threat
Paul Murphy called for an urgent Dáil debate on school funding after Sacred Heart Junior National School in Kille Nardin threatened to close on 1 April due to an unresolved funding shortfall. He criticised the Department of Education for failing to provide adequate support and contrasted state payments to private schools with the local school’s struggle.
The school wrote to the Department of Education saying it would close on 1 April because it could not afford to pay its bills. All teaching was due to move online, which Paul Murphy described as an absolute crisis for pupils and families.
The school flagged a shortfall of €26,000 to the Department in October and reported the situation had worsened despite constant communication. The Department recently made an advance payment that prevented the immediate closure, but Paul Murphy said this merely kicks the can down the road and does not resolve fundamental underfunding.
Paul Murphy highlighted wider funding disparities, noting the State gives over €140 million annually to private schools. He cited Glenstall Abbey, which he said received €1.4 million last year while charging fees of over €14,000, and contrasted that with the Department’s inability to find €40,000 for the Kille Nardin school.
The Department said it has been trying to engage with the school since December and referred the school to the financial support services unit, awaiting information. Paul Murphy said Deputy John LeHeart had been proactively involved in seeking a resolution.
Paul Murphy urged that the matter be debated in the Dáil and pressed for a comprehensive resolution to secure funding for the junior school, the senior school and other affected schools around the country. He closed by addressing the Taoiseach and pressing the need to save local schools.
Immediate crisis at Sacred Heart Junior National School
The school wrote to the Department of Education saying it would close on 1 April because it could not afford to pay its bills. All teaching was due to move online, which Paul Murphy described as an absolute crisis for pupils and families.
Reported shortfall and temporary advance payment
The school flagged a shortfall of €26,000 to the Department in October and reported the situation had worsened despite constant communication. The Department recently made an advance payment that prevented the immediate closure, but Paul Murphy said this merely kicks the can down the road and does not resolve fundamental underfunding.
Funding comparisons with private schools
Paul Murphy highlighted wider funding disparities, noting the State gives over €140 million annually to private schools. He cited Glenstall Abbey, which he said received €1.4 million last year while charging fees of over €14,000, and contrasted that with the Department’s inability to find €40,000 for the Kille Nardin school.
Department engagement and local efforts
The Department said it has been trying to engage with the school since December and referred the school to the financial support services unit, awaiting information. Paul Murphy said Deputy John LeHeart had been proactively involved in seeking a resolution.
Call for parliamentary debate and resolution
Paul Murphy urged that the matter be debated in the Dáil and pressed for a comprehensive resolution to secure funding for the junior school, the senior school and other affected schools around the country. He closed by addressing the Taoiseach and pressing the need to save local schools.
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Transcript
We need an urgent debate on the issue of funding for our schools. Last Thursday, Sacred Heart Junior National School in Kille Nardin was forced to write to the Department of Education to say that they will be closing their doors on the 1st of April because they cannot afford to pay their bills. All teaching will be moving online, an absolute crisis for their pupils, for the families who are affected, completely unworkable. Last October, the school flagged with the Department of Education a shortfall of €26,000. Since that, it has gotten worse, they have been in constant communication and no funding has been forthcoming. In the last few days, under pressure, the Department has made an advance payment to the school, which means it will not close its doors on the 1st of April, but fundamentally it just kicks the can down the road. It does not deal with the fundamental issue of inadequate funding for this junior school, the senior school and many other schools across the country. It is happening while the State gives €140 million plus every year to private schools, when Glenstall Abbey, with fees of over €14,000, got €1.4 million last year and the Department cannot find €40,000 for this school. We need to save our schools and we need to be debating this in the Dáil. I believe that issue is resolved. The Department has been trying to engage with the school for quite a while, since December, and they referred the school to the financial support services unit in December. The Department was awaiting information. I think Deputy John LeHeart was proactively involved in trying to get that issue resolved. Hopefully we can get it finally comprehensively resolved. Thank you, Taoiseach.